"Please Stop Street Singing" Crowded Busking Raises Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread

Cluster COVID-19 Infections Occur in Gwangju and Daejeon... Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread
Active 'Busking' Street Performances
Possible Transmission via Unmasked Audience and Microphone Droplets

On the 4th, citizens are watching a busking performance on a street in Jin-gu, Busan. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters recommends not wearing masks outdoors in hot weather if it is possible to maintain a distance of more than 2 meters between people to prevent COVID-19. However, due to the nature of street performances, it is difficult to maintain distance between the audience, raising concerns about COVID-19 infection. Photo by Seulgi Kim, intern reporter sabiduriakim@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han, Intern Reporter Seulgi Kim] "Even during COVID-19, youth must enjoy themselves"

Recently, as new coronavirus infections (COVID-19) have occurred in clusters in Gwangju and Daejeon, raising concerns about the spread of COVID-19, criticism is growing that the so-called 'busking'?street performances where people sing?may again be a link to cluster infections.

Most of the people singing or watching the performances on the street were closely packed together without wearing masks. This created a situation where COVID-19 could spread through droplets (saliva particles).

Citizens appeared indifferent to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. On the weekend of the 4th, citizen A (21), who was watching busking on a street in Jin-gu, Busan, said, "Since it's outdoors, I think it's okay not to wear a mask. Also, because it's outside, I don't feel the need to maintain 'social distancing.'" He added, "If there are concerns about COVID-19 spreading, local governments can ban busking. But telling people not to perform or not to watch seems pointless."

Passerby B (29), who was passing near the busking performance location, criticized, "They are packed so closely together, so of course it doesn't look good. Medical staff across the country are working hard, so I don't understand why they want to do that. I can't understand why people insist on gathering on the street to sing and dance in this situation."

As citizens feared, COVID-19 is still spreading. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 6th, the daily new confirmed cases in Korea were 63 on the 3rd, 63 on the 4th, and 61 on the 5th, maintaining the 60s for three consecutive days.

As local infections spread to Daejeon·Chungcheong, Daegu·Gyeongbuk, Gwangju·Jeonnam, etc., the average daily number of patients in non-metropolitan areas increased from 3.4 to 11.7 over the past two weeks.

The CDCH recommended that due to the hot weather, wearing masks outdoors can increase heart rate, respiratory rate, and perceived temperature, causing physical strain; therefore, if a distance of 2 meters or more between people can be maintained outdoors, it is recommended not to wear masks.

Last May, Mapo-gu, Seoul, banned busking performances on streets near Hongdae to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The photo shows a banner prohibiting busking performances on streets near Hongdae. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. / Photo by Yonhap News

Given this situation, some local governments have banned busking performances.

In May, Mapo-gu, Seoul, banned all busking performances near Hongdae to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Mapo-gu Culture and Arts Department announced the temporary postponement of street events organized by Mapo-gu, such as book concerts and busking on the Gyeongui Line Book Street, citing COVID-19 concerns.

Experts suggested that the issue cannot be resolved by recommendations like 'refraining from busking' alone, and that overall social distancing measures need to be strengthened.

Professor Woojoo Kim, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University, explained, "Some may think it's okay because busking takes place outdoors, not indoors. However, if the person performing busking is infected with COVID-19, the virus can be released through droplets during the performance, which can be dangerous."

Professor Kim added, "There is no place safe from COVID-19 anymore. Temporary measures like recommending restraint only after problems arise will not be effective for the time being. Instead of lifestyle quarantine policies, it is necessary to raise social distancing to level 2 to increase citizens' awareness and vigilance."

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