"Can't Study at Home" Students Flock to 'Dadakdadak' Cafe Amid COVID-19 Spread Concerns

Government to Ease Social Distancing Measures Until May 5
Some Citizens Flock to Cafes Without Masks

As the government's 'high-intensity social distancing' measures have been eased, citizens are spending time at a cafe in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I can't study at home. I even attend online lectures at cafes."

As university students facing online semester openings flock to cafes, concerns are rising that social distancing has become virtually ineffective. They sit closely together, chatting, and some do not wear masks at all, increasing worries about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Students complain that they cannot concentrate on studying at home, and with the recent decrease in COVID-19 confirmed cases, some are reacting as if it is now safe to relax. The government, however, continues to emphasize the need to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19.

Lee (25), a student attending a university in Seoul, said, "The semester was delayed due to COVID-19, and in the end, I have to attend cyber lectures for the entire semester. I want to listen to lectures at home, but I can't concentrate and feel suffocated, so I often go to cafes." He added, "At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, I hardly went out, including to cafes. But as time passed, I became less cautious. On weekends, cafes are even fully occupied."

Earlier, the government extended the social distancing practice period until the 5th of next month but lifted the suspension recommendations for religious, entertainment, indoor sports facilities, and academies, considering public fatigue and economic impact.

However, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged on the 21st, "We all must maintain vigilance, as anyone, including ourselves, close neighbors, or people we meet on the street, could be asymptomatic carriers," and requested adherence to the 'social distancing' quarantine rules.

However, it is not easy to follow quarantine rules inside cafes where people sit close together. Kim (25), who works part-time at a franchise coffee shop in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "A month ago, all customers inside the store wore masks while talking. But recently, some customers are not wearing masks, and even when there are many customers, they don't seem to care much." He added, "The sense of alertness has decreased significantly compared to before."

As the government's 'high-intensity social distancing' measures have been eased, citizens are spending time at a cafe in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As a result, concerns are growing that COVID-19 may spread again due to close contact inside cafes. According to health authorities, if a nearby person is an asymptomatic or symptomatic carrier, the risk of infection increases when there is close contact within 2 meters for more than 15 minutes.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said at a regular briefing on the 3rd, "Close contact within 1 meter in a confined space can transmit the virus if there is an infected or symptomatic person," and added, "The basic principle of maintaining physical distance applies in any space."

Some countries have taken strict measures such as suspending cafe operations. The Egyptian government, from the 25th of last month, implemented nighttime curfews and suspended operations of restaurants, cafes, and entertainment facilities as COVID-19 countermeasures.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also ordered the closure of all cafes, pubs, and restaurants across the UK, along with school closures, starting from the 20th of last month. The Turkish Ministry of Interior issued orders on the 16th of last month to suspend operations not only of restaurants and cafes but also public places, internet cafes, and game centers.

The government also recommends avoiding contact in confined spaces and practicing social distancing. Kim Kang-lip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said in an interview on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 20th, "The risk level is determined by how confined the indoor space is and how many people are closely gathered in one place," adding, "If social activities increase, the achievements we have made through social distancing over a long period can be instantly undone, which is a clear fact."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.