Daegu City Adjusts Social Distancing... Mask Wearing Mandatory for 'Gatherings and Events'

Religious Facility Seating Spacing, Ban on Meals and Accommodation Events

The 14th Daegu City Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee video conference held on the 1st.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Daegu City announced on the 3rd that it has prepared adjustment measures in accordance with the government's revision of social distancing and will apply them starting from the 7th.

In this revision, the government classified detailed step-by-step implementation plans into five stages: Level 1 - everyday social distancing, Level 1.5 - beginning of regional outbreaks, Level 2 - rapid spread of regional outbreaks or beginning of nationwide spread, Level 2.5 - full-scale nationwide outbreak, and Level 3 - nationwide pandemic.

Based on the government plan, Daegu City held a comprehensive quarantine task force meeting with infectious disease experts on the 1st and decided to maintain the current Level 1 social distancing in the region and finalized detailed implementation plans.

Previously, facilities were uniformly closed or restricted in gatherings, but under the revised plan, more detailed quarantine rules are applied by facility type to enable both economic activity and quarantine. Additionally, to emphasize the importance of mask-wearing, quarantine rules tailored to facility characteristics and prohibitions on shouting and food consumption were added for gatherings/events, performance venues, religious activities, and sports events.

First, gatherings and events will expand the number of participants allowed by stage to prevent large numbers of people from gathering temporarily. At Level 1, if the number of participants is 500 or more, core quarantine rules such as mask-wearing and social distancing are mandatory, and organizers must establish their own quarantine management plans and report and consult with the relevant district or county office. However, gatherings/events with fewer than 500 participants, such as assemblies and demonstrations, must comply with basic rules.

Second, national and public facilities will be thoroughly managed according to facility-specific quarantine guidelines established by the relevant ministries and operate normally, while admission to bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing tracks, and casinos will be limited to 50% of their capacity.

Third, nine types of high-risk management facilities and fourteen types of general management facilities are required to follow common basic rules such as mask-wearing, visitor log management, and regular ventilation and disinfection. High-risk management facilities must comply with additional quarantine rules specific to each facility, such as limits on the number of users. Violations will result in fines starting from the 13th. For operators, the first fine is 1.5 million KRW and the second is 3 million KRW. Users will be fined 100,000 KRW.

Fourth, religious activities are allowed as before, but seating must be spaced with one seat apart during regular worship, mass, Buddhist ceremonies, and memorial services, and meals and overnight events are prohibited.

Fifth, social welfare facilities such as daycare centers, senior welfare centers, senior citizen centers, and facilities for the disabled must strengthen quarantine measures according to facility-specific guidelines. However, since nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, and social welfare facilities in Daegu still pose infection risks despite continuous quarantine efforts, only non-contact visits will be allowed.

Regarding fines for violations of mask-wearing mandates, Daegu City will focus inspections mainly on high-risk management facilities and locations but will promote guidance-centered inspections considering the policy goal of blocking COVID-19 transmission.

Additionally, sports events will allow spectators up to 50% of the maximum capacity as per the government plan, but must comply with quarantine rules such as social distancing and mask-wearing. Schools will operate at two-thirds capacity at Level 1, but adjustments and implementation will be made according to separate quarantine plans by the city education office.

Chae Hong-ho, Deputy Mayor of Daegu City, emphasized, "This revision has established a sustainable social distancing system in the With-Corona era. Since Level 1 was hard-won after the resurgence in August, it is a critical time when joint efforts by quarantine authorities and our citizens are more necessary than ever to prevent escalation to Level 1.5 or higher."

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