In the Transition to Everyday Social Distancing, Gyeonggi-do Adopts a 'Cautious Mode'

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Local governments in Gyeonggi-do are maintaining a 'cautious mode' by delaying the reopening of major public facilities despite the government's transition to a 'living quarantine system' (social distancing in daily life) for COVID-19.

Although the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has decreased, the stance is that opening public facilities where many people gather is 'premature.' Meanwhile, some local governments are proceeding with limited openings on the condition of compliance with quarantine rules.

In particular, Gyeonggi-do opened the 'Gyeonggi-do Independent Baseball League,' which had been postponed due to COVID-19, on the 8th. The Independent Baseball League is a campaign project of Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi-do, introduced last year to give baseball players who failed to enter professional leagues a dream of 'comeback.'

◆Still 'Premature'

Despite the government's transition to the living quarantine system, Gyeonggi-do judged that opening public facilities such as museums is 'still early' and postponed the opening schedule. Accordingly, five core facilities of the Gyeonggi Museum ? Gyeonggi Museum of Art, Gyeonggi Provincial Museum, Nam June Paik Art Center, Silhak Museum, and Jeongok Prehistory Museum ? will open on the 12th. Also, the Gyeonggi Children's Museum will open on the 19th. The opening date for the Northern Gyeonggi Children's Museum has not yet been decided.

Seongnam City also decided to delay the opening of 14 public libraries and 6 senior welfare centers in the area.

A city official said, "Considering that Seongnam had the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province, reopening is not yet under review," adding, "It is highly likely that the facilities will remain closed until school starts."

Pyeongtaek City, which had 44 confirmed COVID-19 cases, will decide next month whether to open 'crowded sports facilities' such as swimming pools and indoor sports facilities.

Hwaseong City decided to gradually open outdoor sports facilities such as gateball courts and traditional Korean archery ranges from the 11th, and libraries from the 12th. The auto camping site will open next month, while indoor sports facilities, swimming pools, and senior centers will remain closed for the time being.

Dongducheon City will resume operation of the data room on the 11th but will delay opening reading rooms where many people gather.

A provincial official said, "Social distancing in daily life is a long-term and continuous quarantine system implemented to block the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring daily life and economic and social activities," and urged residents, "Even after transitioning to the living quarantine system, vigilance must not be relaxed until COVID-19 ends."

Last year's game scene of Gyeonggi-do Independent Baseball League

◆Some Facilities 'Conditional Opening'

Some local governments in the province have conditionally opened facilities on the 6th along with the government's transition to living quarantine, considering regional economic revitalization.

Suwon City opened three museums ? Suwon Museum, Suwon Gwanggyo Museum, and Suwon Hwaseong Museum ? which had been closed since February due to COVID-19, on the 6th. However, visitors must wear masks upon entry and undergo temperature checks. The city also limited the number of visitors to 50 per hour and prohibited group visits.

Yongin City also opened 79 indoor and outdoor sports facilities such as swimming pools and gateball courts, 20 museums and art galleries, and 17 public libraries on the same day. However, users must comply with quarantine rules such as wearing masks, maintaining a 2-meter distance, temperature checks, and filling out personal information logs.

Yeoncheon County partially opened the data rooms of one central library and five small libraries. Sports facilities that had been fully closed were also opened on the condition of compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Yangju City’s Yangju City Jang Uk-jin Art Museum also partially opened from that day with conditions such as limiting the number of visitors by time slot.

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi-do Independent Baseball League, launched last year by Gyeonggi-do, opened on the 8th at the Team Up Campus in Gwangju City. The Independent Baseball League consists of about 130 players who failed to enter professional leagues, forming five teams that will play a total of 120 games until October. The league is a project pledged by Governor Lee Jae-myung to support the comeback of players who did not make it to the pros.

Participants must comply with wearing masks and gloves, sanitizing hands before games, temperature checks, disinfecting bats, and prohibitions on spitting, touching the ball or bat with saliva, and high-fives.

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