"Don't You Catch COVID-19 During the Day?" Extension of Social Distancing Level 2.5... Controversy Over Ban on Eating After 9 PM

Seoul Extends 'Ten Million Citizens Pause Week' by One Week... Nighttime Eating Prohibited
Eating Allowed in Restaurants During Daytime
Self-Employed Criticize Policy as Unhelpful for Quarantine
Experts Say Ambiguous Standards Only Worsen Situation

On the afternoon of the 1st, the area in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul is quiet. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "Does COVID-19 not spread during the day?", "If that's the case, please ban eating at all hours."

As Seoul extends its strengthened social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), it will prohibit dining after 9 p.m. not only in general restaurants and cafes but also in street food stalls, food trucks, and convenience stores throughout the city. However, criticism is rising that such measures may not actually help with quarantine efforts, sparking controversy.

Self-employed individuals and small business owners, struggling to make a living, are voicing dissatisfaction with the government's unclear standards that ban dining between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Some express concerns that this measure might cause crowds to gather during daytime hours, potentially leading to mass infections, while others argue that dining should be banned at all restaurants regardless of time.

Experts also point out that these measures are not effective methods for COVID-19 prevention.

On the 6th, Seoul City announced at a COVID-19 countermeasure briefing held at City Hall the policy to extend the "Ten Million Citizens Pause Week" by one week.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, stated, "The 161,087 general restaurants, cafes, and bakeries in Seoul will only be allowed takeout and delivery from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next day until midnight on the 13th," adding, "The same gathering restrictions will apply to 2,804 street food stalls, street vendors, food trucks, and all convenience stores in Seoul."

Accordingly, the city decided to apply the dining ban from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to 2,804 street food stalls, food trucks, and street vendors in Seoul. This is to prevent the balloon effect caused by the dining ban previously applied to restaurants, cafes, and bakeries.

Seoul City has decided to ban nighttime eating activities at street stalls, food trucks, and similar venues until the 13th to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Yonhap News

The problem is that people using these facilities outside of nighttime hours can still be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. During the day, when stores are open, food consumption is allowed without restriction.

Given this situation, some argue that food consumption should be completely banned at food-selling establishments. Since infection can occur outside the designated hours, eating in all types of businesses is considered risky.

Recently, a petition titled "Request for Takeout Only Regardless of Franchise, Independent Cafes, Restaurants, or Bakery Store Size" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner, identifying as a franchise self-employed business owner, stated, "All businesses serving people, including independent cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and small bars, are exposed to COVID-19," and urged, "There should be no discriminatory application. All food-related businesses should implement a policy allowing only takeout at all times so that everyone can agree."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture

Moreover, self-employed business owners complain that the city's ambiguous standards are only increasing confusion. They criticize the lack of consideration for on-site characteristics, reducing the effectiveness of the measures.

One self-employed person recently posted on an online community board a message titled "What is this nonsense? Is COVID-19 not active during the day?" expressing difficulties.

The author wrote, "Does COVID-19 disappear during the day? The places with lines at popular restaurants are all lunchtime. What kind of policy is this?" and raised their voice, "It's not a complete shutdown of all businesses, so what is the ban after 9 p.m. about?"

They continued, "I understand that effort and sacrifice are necessary to end COVID-19, but is it reasonable to prohibit customers after 9 p.m. without any adjustments to rent, electricity bills, or taxes? I am at a loss for words regarding this measure."

Civilians also criticize, saying, "How do you plan to stop people from eating during the day?", "COVID-19 doesn't only spread at night, so this policy doesn't help quarantine," and "The 9 p.m. standard is strange."

There are also claims that this measure will not help with quarantine. Kim, a worker in their 20s, said, "I don't know if this measure will really help with quarantine," adding, "There were people infected while eating lunch. Surely, some will go out to eat after finishing work at 6 p.m."

They added, "The virus doesn't only spread at night; exposure can happen anytime and anywhere, so blocking only nighttime is a strange policy."

Concerns also arise that crowds may gather before 9 p.m. due to the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. standard. Another worker, Lee (32), said, "I'm worried that setting the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. standard will cause people to crowd during the day," and raised their voice, "Honestly, this measure only seems to increase confusion among citizens and self-employed business owners."

Experts point out that ambiguous standards in quarantine only worsen the COVID-19 situation. Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "By vaguely raising social distancing measures, self-employed businesses are hindered, and citizens' fatigue only increases," analyzing, "Currently, after raising to level 2.5, measures such as banning dining from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. have been implemented, but these are not effective quarantine methods."

He continued, "If enforcement is done with ambiguous standards and gradual increases like now, this situation will only prolong," adding, "If everyone complied within a short time and effectiveness was achieved, complaints would be fewer, but vague measures cause continuous dissatisfaction. This problem arises because quarantine is not applied fairly."

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