Gwangju City Elevates to 'Social Distancing Level 2' for Two Weeks Starting the 23rd

Lee Sam-yong, co-chairman of the COVID-19 Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee, is announcing the results of the Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee meeting, including the elevation to social distancing level 2, on the morning of the 22nd at the city hall briefing room. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City will raise the social distancing level back to “Level 2” for two weeks starting from the 23rd.

The Gwangju COVID-19 Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee held an emergency meeting at 10:30 a.m. on the 22nd and made this decision.

Lee Sam-yong, co-chairman of the COVID-19 Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee, said in an online briefing that “Since the transition to ‘Social Distancing Level 1’ on August 3, 47 local infection cases have occurred in just three weeks, and nationwide, nearly 2,000 new confirmed cases have been reported over the past eight days. We have judged that the recent local infection situation has exceeded the controllable level within the quarantine management system, and decided to raise the social distancing to Level 2 from the 23rd to September 6.”

Gwangju City will basically follow the government’s plan but will apply strengthened guidelines considering some regional characteristics.

First, all gatherings, meetings, and events with 50 or more people indoors and 100 or more people outdoors will be completely banned.

Even if events with fewer than 50 people indoors or fewer than 100 people outdoors are held out of necessity, all attendees must strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks, temperature checks, keeping attendance logs, maintaining physical distance, and providing hand sanitizers.

Violations may result in fines of up to 3 million KRW, orders to prohibit gatherings at the relevant facilities and organizations, and the imposition of various incurred costs.

Gathering bans will also be imposed on 12 types of high-risk facilities designated by the government.

Entertainment bars and clubs, which have been subject to gathering bans and facility closures until the 25th, will continue to be subject to the same gathering ban measures from the 26th.

Indoor public facilities operated by Gwangju City, the Office of Education, five district offices, and affiliated public institutions will also be completely closed from the 23rd to the 6th of next month.

Gathering restrictions, including mandatory quarantine rules, will be imposed on 12 types of facilities such as performance halls, wedding halls, and religious facilities.

However, religious facilities are strongly encouraged to hold non-face-to-face online services, and all small group meetings and communal meals are strictly prohibited.

During the Level 2 social distancing period, visits to elderly residents in care facilities are completely banned, and workers are prohibited from visiting other facilities except for commuting to and from work.

Daycare centers are recommended to close for two weeks, and social welfare facilities are also advised to suspend program use and operations of senior leisure facilities, social welfare centers, and self-support centers.

Gyms and various indoor sports facilities operated by universities will be subject to mandatory quarantine rules and gathering restrictions.

Additionally, group sports activities such as community sports clubs and indoor group exercises will be subject to mandatory quarantine rules and gathering restrictions. Professional baseball, professional soccer, and other sports games will be held without spectators.

Since the 21st, Gwangju City has issued an administrative order requiring everyone to wear masks indoors and outdoors. Violations may result in fines of up to 3 million KRW or penalties of up to 100,000 KRW under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. After an educational period until October 12, penalties will be imposed starting from the 13th.

Gwangju City and its affiliated public institutions will use flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting and staggered working hours within 20% of total personnel to minimize work density, and private institutions and companies are recommended to maintain similar work arrangements as public institutions.

The city will provide maximum support, including strict protection of personal information and confidentiality, if individuals actively cooperate in quickly identifying movement paths and contacts. However, if individuals are uncooperative or provide false statements, strong measures such as criminal punishment under the Infectious Disease Act, claims for treatment costs, and exercise of subrogation rights will be taken.

Lee Sam-yong, co-chairman of the COVID-19 Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee, said, “Please have a sense of crisis that you can be infected with the virus anytime and anywhere, and refrain from unnecessary outings, gatherings, and visits to multi-use facilities. At this point, the best vaccine is ‘wearing a mask,’ and the greatest enemy is ‘complacency.’ Please keep quarantine rules strictly in mind and follow them.”

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