Government: "Greater Seoul Area's 'Social Distancing Level 2.5' is the Last Line of Defense... Must Hold Firm for 8 Days"

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' Quarantine General Division.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The government emphasized that raising social distancing measures in the Seoul metropolitan area to virtually 'Level 2.5' from the 30th of this month until the 6th of next month is the 'last line of defense.'

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a briefing on the 29th, "Let us not forget that this is the last chance to curb the spread in the metropolitan area and hold the line for the next eight days to overcome the crisis."

He added, "We are well aware that this measure can greatly affect the daily lives and livelihoods of the people," and reiterated, "The current situation in the metropolitan area is so severe that intensive and strong social distancing measures are unavoidable." He continued, "We are now standing at the last line of defense to suppress the spread in the metropolitan area," and urged compliance with quarantine rules again, saying, "If this wave does not subside, the only option left in our hands is the 'extreme remedy' of raising to Level 3."

Yoon requested, "Residents of the metropolitan area should actively cooperate with the strengthened social distancing measures for the next eight days," and asked, "Please stay safely at home not only for yourselves but for all of us, and refrain from going out and contacting others."

The government will raise the quarantine level in the metropolitan area to 'Level 2.5,' equivalent to Level 3, for eight days until the 6th of next month. Restaurants, bakeries, and other food establishments in the metropolitan area may operate normally during daytime and nighttime hours, but from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, only takeout and delivery services are allowed.

Additionally, franchise coffee shops are prohibited from allowing food and beverage consumption inside the stores regardless of business hours; only takeout and delivery are permitted. Indoor sports facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, billiard halls, and golf practice ranges will be closed, and face-to-face classes at academies are also banned. Visits to nursing hospitals and care facilities will be restricted.

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