"COVID-19 Situation Severe" Nationwide Expansion of Social Distancing Level 2 from Tomorrow (Comprehensive)

Minister Park Neung-hoo's Public Address: "Advisory Measures to Begin in Some Local Governments in Gangwon and Gyeongbuk"
Ban on Indoor Gatherings Over 50 and Outdoor Gatherings Over 100... Suspension of Operations at 12 High-Risk Facilities

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The government announced that, as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads nationwide, the enhanced Level 2 social distancing measures, which had been limited to the Seoul metropolitan area, will be expanded nationwide starting from the 23rd.

On the 22nd, Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo stated in a public address on the 'COVID-19 crisis and the collective medical association strike' at the Government Seoul Office, "We are at a turning point where a large-scale nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 is beginning. It is a very precarious situation," adding, "From tomorrow (the 23rd), social distancing will be elevated to Level 2 nationwide."

However, Minister Park added, "In some local governments where the number of cases and cluster infections are small and the need for quarantine is low, the Level 2 distancing measures will be implemented as recommendations rather than mandatory." Some local governments where Level 2 distancing recommendations apply include Gangwon-do and Gyeongbuk.

Earlier, from the 16th, the government raised the quarantine level to Level 2 social distancing for Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. From the 19th, enhanced quarantine measures were extended to include Incheon and the entire Seoul metropolitan area.

Since first introducing the social distancing quarantine system on February 29, the government has implemented strengthened social distancing (March 22 to April 19) and relaxed social distancing (April 20 to May 5) according to the intensity of enforcement. Currently, the system is unified under Levels 1 to 3 social distancing, adjusted according to the COVID-19 outbreak situation.

The main difference between Level 1 and Level 2 distancing is the criteria for gatherings, meetings, and events where people meet face-to-face. At Level 1, in principle, there is no limit on the number of people as long as quarantine rules are followed, but at Level 2, the number of people must not exceed '50 indoors and 100 outdoors.'

Notably, under Level 2 distancing, attendance at professional sports games such as professional baseball and professional soccer is suspended. Operations of high-risk facilities with a high risk of cluster infections are also halted. Currently, the government-designated high-risk facilities include hunting pubs, emotional bars, entertainment bars, karaoke bars, colatecs, singing practice rooms, indoor group exercise facilities, indoor standing concert halls, door-to-door sales companies, logistics centers, large academies, and buffet restaurants, totaling 12 types of facilities.

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