Franchise Not Allowed, Individual Cafes and Bakeries Allowed? Doubts Over Effectiveness of Strengthened Cafe Quarantine Measures

Ban on Eating Inside Franchise Cafes from the 30th
Independent Cafes and Bakeries to Operate Normally
Citizens: "Some Places Allowed, Others Not... No Consistency"
Experts: "Flaws in Level 2.5 Policy... Need to Raise to Level 3"

A cafe near Konkuk University Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, last April. Citizens are gathered and sitting together. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kang Joo-hee] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) intensifies, social distancing level 2.5 has been implemented, and from the 30th, eating inside franchise coffee shops in the metropolitan area has been completely banned. However, since individual cafes and bakeries are not included in this restriction, concerns are being raised about the effectiveness of the strengthened quarantine measures.

Experts pointed out the loopholes in social distancing level 2.5 and emphasized the need to escalate to level 3.

Earlier, when the effect of social distancing level 2 in the metropolitan area, which was implemented from the 16th, did not clearly appear, the government additionally announced the 'Extension of Level 2 and Strengthening of Quarantine Measures' plan.

According to the additional quarantine measures, franchise-type coffee shops among all cafes are prohibited from consuming food and beverages inside the store from the 30th to the 6th of the following month, allowing only takeout and delivery. When taking out drinks, core quarantine rules such as writing visitor logs, wearing masks, and maintaining a 2m (at least 1m) distance between users must be followed.

However, the exclusion of individual cafes and bakeries from the indoor eating ban has been pointed out as a problem. Individual cafes that are not franchises, and franchise stores in the form of bakeries, can operate normally except from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. In fact, this means that during daytime hours, seat use and food consumption inside the store are possible.

As a result, many citizens express doubts about the effectiveness of this strengthened quarantine policy. It is pointed out that individual cafes are equally vulnerable environments for COVID-19 infection.

Upon hearing this news, citizens responded, "Even individual cafes can have large stores, and franchise stores can be small; isn't the criterion for quarantine strengthening unclear?", "COVID-19 infections do not only occur in franchise stores, so if quarantine is to be strengthened, it should apply to all, not selectively; there is no consistency," and "There is no law that people won't gather in individual cafes or bakeries with similar environments; rather, limiting the number of people would be a much more effective method."

On the 31st, a citizen is filling out an electronic entry log at a Starbucks store located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Some also express concerns that consumers who cannot use franchise cafes may flock to individual cafes and bakeries.

A 29-year-old office worker A, who lives in Incheon, said, "I was surprised that there were still many people in an individual cafe I went to for takeout on the weekend," adding, "I heard that cafe quarantine rules were being strengthened, but it turned out that only franchise cafes were subject to this. There were still many people in neighborhood bakeries and ice cream shops. They were sitting in seats as usual, taking off masks and eating."

Experts emphasize that the current social distancing level 2.5 policy is insufficient given the domestic COVID-19 situation and that escalation to level 3 is necessary.

Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "No policy is perfect. When implementing policies, loopholes appear and unexpected situations can arise. To overcome these variables, experts have emphasized the need to implement social distancing level 3."

He continued, "The loopholes revealed are new problems arising from implementing level 2.5. The effect of this level 2.5 implementation can only be confirmed after the COVID-19 situation ends, but considering the current spread, it does not seem to be a preemptive and active method."

Professor Eom said, "The government is cautious about implementing level 3 considering the economy, but level 2.5 does not seem to effectively prevent the economic losses currently occurring," adding, "We will have to see the results, but if cluster infections are not controlled even with level 2.5, this strengthened quarantine policy will inevitably receive a skeptical evaluation."

Meanwhile, Seoul City has declared the period until the 6th of next month as the 'Ten Million Citizens Pause Week' and repeatedly urged citizens to refrain from going out and strictly follow quarantine rules.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, said in an online briefing on the 30th, "We intend to designate the period until the 6th as the 'Ten Million Citizens Pause Week,'" and urged, "During this period, citizens should act as quarantine agents by refraining from going out and meeting others as much as possible, and avoid nighttime activities and eating outside the home."

He added, "If we cannot curb the spread even by enduring the current pain, the worst situation where our economy stops indefinitely may come," and requested, "Now is the time to share the pain. From today for one week, please live with the determination to give up daily life and strictly follow living quarantine."

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