Gyeongnam Province Imposes Business Suspension on 12 Industries in 6 Cities and Counties... Will Strive to Compensate Damages

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju-cheol In] Gyeongnam Province raised social distancing to Level 2 starting from midnight on the 23rd to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Governor Kim Kyung-soo announced that a gathering ban would be enforced at high-risk facilities in six cities and counties in Gyeongnam?Changwon-si, Jinju-si, Yangsan-si, Geoje-si, Gimhae-si, and Changnyeong-gun?where local infections occurred in August.

Accordingly, 12 types of high-risk facilities, including entertainment bars, karaoke bars, singing practice rooms, and PC rooms, will be prohibited from operating starting on the 23rd. Distribution logistics centers, which are high-risk facilities but essential industrial facilities, are excluded.

There are a total of 7,593 high-risk facilities in the province, excluding two distribution logistics centers. Indoor public facilities such as libraries, operated by public institutions, will be completely closed.

Additionally, gatherings and events of more than 50 people indoors and more than 100 people outdoors are all prohibited.

In 12 cities and counties including Haman, where no local infections have occurred, gathering restrictions requiring QR code registration, mask-wearing, and 2-meter distancing have been applied to high-risk facilities to allow operation. If a local confirmed case occurs in these areas, the restrictions will immediately shift to a gathering ban.

Among medium-risk facilities, churches must switch all services to non-face-to-face worship, and all other face-to-face meetings, events, and meals are prohibited.

Gyeongnam Province issued an 'Administrative Order to Switch to Non-Face-to-Face Worship' for churches to which pastors and elders who attended the Gwanghwamun rally on Liberation Day belong, as well as churches where COVID-19 cases have occurred.

From the 26th, kindergartens and elementary and middle schools must maintain one-third density, and high schools must maintain two-thirds density. Social welfare facilities and daycare centers are recommended to close temporarily, while essential services such as emergency care will be maintained.

Governor Kim Kyung-soo said, "We will strive to ensure appropriate compensation in any form for the damages endured in cooperation with quarantine measures for the safety of residents," and added, "I also urge business owners operating other multi-use facilities to strictly adhere to core quarantine rules."

Meanwhile, as of the 23rd, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Gyeongnam is 195. In August alone, there have been 39 confirmed cases (27 local infections and 12 imported cases).

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