Chungnam Strengthens Quarantine Measures: "Ban on Religious Gatherings and Mandatory Indoor Masks"

On the 20th, when the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection has been in the triple digits for the tenth consecutive day, office workers wearing masks are heading to work at the Sejongno intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to the article. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is strengthening quarantine measures by banning in-person events and gatherings at local religious facilities and mandating mask-wearing in all indoor facilities except private spaces.

Governor Yang Seung-jo of Chungnam held a press conference on the 21st to announce these enhanced quarantine measures.

The strengthened measures include ▲ban on gatherings at religious facilities ▲mandatory mask-wearing ▲recommendation to suspend operations and restrict gatherings at 12 nationally designated high-risk group infection facilities ▲gathering restrictions at 6 provincially designated medium-risk group infection facilities ▲operation restrictions at infection-vulnerable facilities ▲ban on gatherings for door-to-door sales companies ▲mandatory installation of electronic entry logs on charter buses ▲operation restrictions at provincial and city/county public facilities ▲extension of COVID-19 testing periods for visitors to churches and assemblies in the metropolitan area, totaling nine administrative orders.

Additionally, the measures include ▲raising public sector social distancing to level 2 ▲recommendation to refrain from all private and public gatherings and events with 50 or more people indoors and 100 or more people outdoors ▲recommendation to close social welfare facilities such as welfare centers ▲transition to remote classes in city/county schools where cluster outbreaks persist.

Governor Yang said, “Among the 38 new confirmed cases in Chungnam over the past week, 23 were infections originating from the metropolitan area,” adding, “To prevent the rapid spread of infectious diseases, the province will implement enhanced quarantine management measures equivalent to ‘social distancing level 2’ starting today (the 21st).”

He emphasized, “Since most recent new infections began at religious facilities, we judged that merely recommending gathering restrictions at religious facilities would not guarantee effective quarantine,” and “for the same reason, the province has decided to allow only non-face-to-face worship, mass, and Buddhist services at all religious facilities in the region.”

Under the administrative order banning gatherings at religious facilities, 4,043 religious facilities in Chungnam will operate only non-face-to-face activities until the 31st, and all in-person events and gatherings are completely prohibited.

Governor Yang also stated, “From now on, masks must be worn in all indoor spaces except private spaces, and mask-wearing will also be mandatory outdoors where many people gather.”

The administrative order mandating mask-wearing will be applied throughout Chungnam after a grace period until October 12, starting from October 13 until further notice.

In addition, the province explained that the COVID-19 testing order and prohibition of interpersonal contact for visitors to metropolitan area churches and participants in the Gwanghwamun assembly, issued on the 18th, will be extended until the 25th of this month.

Meanwhile, the announced enhanced quarantine measures also include administrative orders restricting gatherings and operations at 12 nationally designated high-risk industries (3,525 facilities), 6 provincially designated medium-risk industries (252 facilities), and 448 infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes, nursing hospitals, and psychiatric hospitals.

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