Jeonnam Province Issues Administrative Order to Ban Gatherings at High-Risk Facilities Until the 7th of Next Month

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has issued an administrative order equivalent to social distancing level 3 amid the worsening spread of COVID-19.

Jeonnam Province announced that due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the region, it will enforce a gathering ban administrative order on high-risk and medium-risk facilities starting from the 30th.

This administrative order postpones the elevation to social distancing level 3 considering the impact on the local economy, and applies strengthened measures equivalent to level 3 to infection-risk facilities designated by the government.

Recently, confirmed cases have surged mainly in the eastern areas such as Suncheon and Gwangyang, while the southwestern areas including Mokpo and Wando, as well as cities and counties adjacent to Gwangju, are also showing widespread transmission trends.

Earlier on the 27th, Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam Province announced the implementation of this administrative order through an appeal to residents, informing them of the trend and seriousness of confirmed cases, and actively seeking cooperation in practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

This administrative order will be in effect until midnight of September 7, prohibiting gatherings regardless of the number of people at 12 types of high-risk facilities and 6 types of medium-risk facilities, while gatherings of 10 or more people are banned at kids' cafes, model houses, and academies with fewer than 300 people.

The facilities subject to the gathering ban include government-designated high-risk facilities such as entertainment and nightclubs, buffets, PC rooms, karaoke rooms, indoor group exercise (GX fitness centers, GX spinning, GX Zumba), direct sales promotion centers, game rooms and arcades, bathhouses and saunas, performance venues, indoor water parks, and indoor sports facilities (badminton courts, swimming pools, bowling alleys including lock bowling alleys, fitness centers, swimming pools, dance halls, dance academies, and sports dojos).

The province plans to impose administrative sanctions according to relevant laws and claim compensation (subrogation rights) for hospitalization, treatment, and quarantine costs if the administrative order is violated causing COVID-19 transmission or hindering quarantine efforts.

Governor Kim stated, “Elevating to social distancing level 3 would inevitably impose severe restrictions and contraction on economic activities, causing significant inconvenience to residents' daily lives. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow level 2 quarantine rules while implementing strengthened measures equivalent to level 3 for certain multi-use facilities.”

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