Gwangju City Extends 'Social Distancing Level 2' for 2 More Weeks

Prohibition of Gatherings at Six Types of High-Risk Facilities

On the afternoon of the 27th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held an online press conference in the city hall briefing room to announce special Chuseok quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City will extend the ‘Social Distancing Level 2’ that ends on the 27th for another two weeks.

On the afternoon of the same day, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, announced through an online briefing, “According to government policy, the ‘Social Distancing Level 2’ measures will be maintained for another two weeks in our city.”

Accordingly, gatherings, meetings, and events with more than 50 people indoors and more than 100 people outdoors will continue to be prohibited until the 11th of next month.

In addition, except for the six high-risk facilities subject to the government’s ‘gathering ban’ order, the remaining 33 types of restricted gathering facilities must strictly comply with quarantine rules such as ▲mandatory mask-wearing ▲maintaining at least 1 meter distance within the facility ▲periodic ventilation of indoor operating facilities ▲mandatory entry log creation ▲designation of quarantine managers ▲mandatory preparation of quarantine rule inspection logs, as is currently the case.

Measures such as suspension of operation of social welfare facilities including senior centers and daycare centers, prohibition of visits to nursing homes for the elderly, holding sports games without spectators, and limited operation of public facilities will also be maintained during the same period.

However, nursing homes for the elderly will temporarily allow limited non-contact visits from September 30 to October 4 during the Chuseok holiday if equipped with non-contact facilities such as transparent partitions.

Furthermore, considering the inevitable significant population movement between the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas despite requests to refrain from traveling to hometowns or trips during the Chuseok holiday period, a ‘gathering ban’ will be imposed on the six high-risk facilities.

All entertainment bars, colatecs, danran bars, emotional bars, and hunting pochas nationwide will be subject to a one-week (September 28 to October 4) ‘gathering ban,’ and all direct sales promotion centers nationwide, such as door-to-door sales, will be subject to a two-week (September 28 to October 11) ‘gathering ban.’

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “The week from now until the Chuseok holiday is very important,” and urged, “Citizens, please strictly follow the quarantine rules with a sense of crisis that you can be infected with the virus anytime and anywhere.”

He added, “Regarding the illegal rally to be held around Gwanghwamun in Seoul on October 3, National Foundation Day, I earnestly ask citizens not to attend the illegal rally for the safety of themselves and their families,” and “If confirmed cases arise due to participation in illegal rallies, all tolerance will be excluded, and all possible legal responsibilities will be held, including claims for damages and recourse for economic and social costs incurred thereafter.”

He continued, “I sincerely thank the citizens once again who have trusted the quarantine authorities and worked together to overcome COVID-19 at every critical moment,” and said, “This Chuseok, please refrain from outings and gatherings such as visiting hometowns as much as possible, and I hope you spend a comfortable time resting at home with your family.”

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