"Return to Normal Life This Week is Critical" … Seoul City, All-Out Battle Against COVID-19

COVID-19 Cases Peak at Triple Digits, Drop to 48 on the 6th
Scattered Infections Continue in Apartments and Call Centers... Still Too Early to Relax
Nighttime Dining and Gatherings Ban Expanded... All Gaecheonjeol Demonstrations Prohibited

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the government extended the 'social distancing' level 2.5 measures in the Seoul metropolitan area for another week to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Seoul Metropolitan Government is also tightening quarantine measures by continuing the 'Ten Million Citizens Pause Week.' Over the past week, indoor group gatherings of more than 50 people, nighttime dining at restaurants and convenience stores, and in-person church services were banned, and gathering bans were imposed on academies and PC rooms. As the number of confirmed cases began to decline, the city judged that this could be the last turning point to return to pre-COVID-19 daily life.

According to Seoul City, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in one day on the 6th (as of midnight on the 7th) was 48, marking the lowest point in 24 days since 32 cases on the 13th of last month. Seoul's daily new confirmed cases, which had been in the triple digits continuously since August 15, peaked at 154 on the 26th of the same month. Since then, the number of confirmed cases began to decline to double digits starting from the 'Ten Million Citizens Pause Week' on the 30th of last month, dropping to the 60s per day, then 51 on the 4th, 63 on the 5th, and 48 again on the 6th of this month.

However, sporadic cluster infections in daily life, including at apartments in Gangnam-gu, a call center in Gangdong-gu, and gatherings of acquaintances and families, have continued, leading Seoul City to consider it premature to be complacent.

Accordingly, in line with the extended strengthened social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, nighttime dining bans at restaurants, convenience stores, street stalls, and food trucks will continue for another week. Only takeout and delivery sales will be allowed at bakeries and ice cream shops. The gathering ban on 12 types of high-risk facilities, including PC rooms and karaoke rooms, as well as gyms, billiard halls, and golf practice ranges, and the reduction of city bus operations will continue until midnight on the 13th.

Already, 33 restaurants and other establishments that violated the nighttime dining ban have been caught and subjected to a two-week gathering ban. If these businesses fail to comply, they may face criminal charges and fines of up to 3 million won.

Four churches that violated the gathering restriction orders were immediately reported by the city. Regarding Seongbuk-gu Sarang Jeil Church, Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and his legal representatives were reported for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, including breaching self-quarantine and obstructing epidemiological investigations. This week, the city plans to file a civil damage claim against the church.

Some conservative groups such as the Liberty Union, Ten Million Innocent Release Headquarters, and the Taegeukgi Revolution National Movement Headquarters had applied to hold rallies in the Jongno-gu and Jung-gu areas of Seoul on the 3rd of next month, but all these assembly applications were banned early on.

A city official emphasized, "Post-facto quarantine measures are too late, so it is most important now to prevent large-scale rallies from taking place." He added, "The rallies in Jongno-gu and Jung-gu are originally in prohibited assembly zones, but to further raise awareness, the city hall, district offices, and police will all send official prohibition notices."

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