Prime Minister Jeong: "Extension of Social Distancing Level 2 for 1 Week... Discussion on Operating Hours Restrictions for Restaurants and Cafes" Breaking News

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held on the 28th at the video conference room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 28th, "The government plans to extend the level 2 social distancing in the metropolitan area, which ends this weekend, for one more week, while adding stronger quarantine measures," and added, "We are discussing measures to restrict the business methods and operating hours of establishments such as restaurants and cafes, which we use most frequently in daily life."

Prime Minister Chung made these remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day.

He said, "The weekend is approaching. Despite mandatory non-face-to-face worship services in places including the metropolitan area, Busan, and Chungnam, nearly 2,000 churches forced face-to-face worship services last weekend," and urged, "For the safety of congregants and neighbors, we once again ask churches to cooperate with the quarantine guidelines themselves."

He continued, "Local governments concerned should thoroughly inspect whether non-face-to-face worship services are being observed this Sunday, and strictly take action against violations of administrative orders."

Furthermore, he added, "We also ask the public to stay at home as much as possible from this weekend unless engaging in essential economic activities, and to minimize contact with others."

Prime Minister Chung pointed out, "In this severe crisis, the indefinite work stoppage by the Resident Doctors Association has exceeded a week, causing emergency rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units?where every second counts?to gradually come to a halt," and noted, "Yesterday in Busan, a drug overdose patient was refused treatment by emergency rooms at about 10 nearby university hospitals, fell into cardiac arrest, barely recovered, and was transferred to a university hospital in Ulsan about three hours later."

He added, "While the government cannot replace hospitals whose hands and feet are tied, we must listen to the voices of patients in distress due to this unprecedented situation and provide possible support," and ordered, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare and related ministries should promptly operate a 'Collective Strike Damage Report and Support Center' in cooperation with like-minded private organizations to receive complaints from affected patients and provide medical and legal support."

He also mentioned, "Resident doctors should no longer ignore patients in crisis and immediately return to their posts."

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