Gwangju City "Deciding Whether to Raise Response Level Based on Weekend COVID-19 Spread Trends"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju City is expected to monitor the trend this weekend and discuss escalation in response to the unusual signs of COVID-19 spread.

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, stated in an online briefing at 1:30 p.m. on the 12th, “This morning, we held an emergency meeting of the COVID-19 Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee. Since COVID-19 is being stably managed within the quarantine management system, we decided to observe the infection spread trend until the weekend and then determine whether to escalate the quarantine response level.”

On this day, the Public-Private Joint Countermeasures Committee issued an administrative order of “ban on gatherings and facility closure” under Articles 47 and 49 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act for ‘Sangmu Room Soju Bar,’ where six confirmed cases occurred, until further notice to block the spread of local infections.

Additionally, it was confirmed that confirmed cases related to ‘Sangmu Room Soju Bar’ did not wear masks inside the facility, so fines will be imposed on workers and business operators according to the infectious disease-related laws (up to 100,000 KRW for violators, up to 3 million KRW for business operators).

Even under “Level 1 Social Distancing,” five types of entertainment facilities (clubs, room salons, and other entertainment pubs, danran pubs, emotional pubs, colatecs, hunting pochas) are designated as priority management facilities and must mandatorily comply with core quarantine rules such as wearing masks, managing visitor logs, limiting occupancy to one person per 4㎡ of facility area, periodic ventilation and disinfection, and social distancing.

The quarantine authorities plan to strengthen inspections of compliance with quarantine rules at entertainment establishments in cooperation with five district offices, and will take strong legal actions such as facility closure, fines, and claims for compensation against establishments where confirmed cases occur or confirmed cases violate quarantine rules.

The cumulative number of COVID-19-related reports filed by Gwangju City is 82, and claims for damages (compensation claims) total one case.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop emphasized, “From the 13th, fines will be imposed if masks are not worn indoors or in crowded outdoor areas,” adding, “The quarantine authorities will strongly respond by imposing fines without exception for not wearing masks at 23 types of priority and general management facilities, public transportation, assembly and protest sites, medical institutions and pharmacies, nursing facilities and day/night care facilities, gatherings and events of 500 or more people, indoor sports stadiums, and call centers.”

Meanwhile, over five days from the 7th, there were a total of 29 confirmed local infections in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions (14 in Gwangju, 15 in Jeonnam), with six confirmed cases in Gwangju and eight in Jeonnam on the 11th.

During the same period, there were eight confirmed cases related to the Shinhan Bank Yeonhyang-dong Branch in Suncheon, Jeonnam, and five confirmed cases related to Broadcasting and Communication High School in Gwangju and Jeonnam, where classes were attended together on the 8th in Gwangju.

In particular, on the 10th and 11th, a total of six confirmed cases among workers and visitors at ‘Sangmu Room Soju Bar’ led to another ‘entertainment establishment cluster infection’ incident.

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