Opening of Over 5,400 Seoul Daycare Centers Delayed... Inspections of High-Risk Facilities Including PC Bangs

'Social Distancing' Raised to Level 2 ... Facility Operation Suspended and Reported for Violating Quarantine Rules

On the 10th, merchants and visitors near the screening clinic for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) set up at Namdaemun Market in Seoul are undergoing specimen tests. According to Seoul City and Jung-gu, eight merchants at Kennedy Arcade in Namdaemun Market were confirmed positive for COVID-19. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In response to the government's escalation of 'social distancing' to Level 2, Seoul City will strictly enforce restrictions on gatherings at high-risk facilities and compliance with quarantine rules for two weeks starting from the 16th, and has decided to postpone the reopening of facilities such as daycare centers.

Currently, the places designated as high-risk facilities in relation to COVID-19 prevention include 12 types: emotional pubs, hunting pubs, entertainment bars, karaoke bars, colatecs, karaoke rooms, indoor group exercise facilities, indoor standing concert halls, door-to-door sales companies, logistics centers, large academies with over 300 people, and buffet restaurants. Additionally, PC rooms were newly designated as high-risk facilities following the escalation to Level 2 social distancing on the 15th.

The city has been issuing orders to restrict gatherings (enforce quarantine rules) at multi-use facilities such as PC rooms, karaoke practice rooms, entertainment facilities, and religious facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Moving forward, it will manage compliance with these orders through continuous on-site inspections.

Facilities violating quarantine rules will be subject to closure orders (operation suspension), and those that do not comply with closure orders will face administrative actions such as prosecution.

Furthermore, the city will impose gathering restriction orders and mandate compliance with quarantine rules on multi-use facilities such as general restaurants and arcades of a certain scale, which had not previously been subject to gathering restrictions.

Along with this, the city has withdrawn its plan to reopen 5,420 daycare centers, which had been closed, starting from the 18th. Following the Ministry of Health and Welfare's recommendation to keep daycare centers closed, reopening will be postponed until a separate order is issued.

Elementary after-school care facilities (519 locations) will also close again, maintaining only emergency care. Additionally, women and family facilities (6,365 locations) and youth facilities, which had gradually resumed operations since the 20th of last month, will suspend operations again.

Moreover, the city recommends refraining from holding events with more than 50 people indoors or 100 people outdoors, and also advises limiting private gatherings and events. If events are unavoidable, participants must comply with quarantine rules such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

Professional sports games such as baseball and soccer will be held without spectators according to guidelines from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Other general sports games and tournaments, including nationwide high school baseball competitions and high school ice hockey leagues, will also be conducted without spectators in accordance with the Level 2 social distancing escalation.

Meanwhile, facility managers and users found violating Level 2 social distancing quarantine rules will be prosecuted under the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.' If confirmed cases arise due to violations of gathering restriction orders, all costs including quarantine expenses and patient treatment fees may be claimed through subrogation (compensation claims). Facilities that fail to comply with quarantine rules will face strengthened closure orders.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, stated at a press briefing on the 15th, "If we do not properly block COVID-19 at this point, a situation more severe than what we have experienced so far may occur." He urged, "All citizens should refrain from unnecessary gatherings, outings, movements, and use of multi-use facilities, and especially considering that the spark in the metropolitan area could spread nationwide, please strictly observe personal hygiene and quarantine rules."

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