Strengthened Quarantine Measures from December 1... Incheon City Bans Shower Room Use in Indoor Sports Facilities

Strong Recommendation to Cancel Private Gatherings of 10 or More
Sauna and Hanjeungmak Operation Prohibited, GX-type Facilities Ban on Assembly

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun is presiding over the 'Daily COVID-19 Response Situation Inspection Meeting' at the City Hall Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 29th.
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City will strengthen quarantine measures for facilities and activities where group infections have occurred or the risk is high, starting from 0:00 on December 1, in accordance with the government's plan to enhance quarantine measures in the metropolitan area.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held a meeting on the 29th and decided to strengthen quarantine measures for certain high-risk facilities in the metropolitan area from the 1st to the 7th of next month, when the level 2 measures end, due to the recent sharp increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) concentrated in the metropolitan area.

In this regard, Mayor Park Namchun personally presided over the Incheon City Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the same day, asking for citizens' understanding regarding the implementation of strengthened quarantine measures and emphasizing overcoming the current crisis together.

Mayor Park said, "In the face of this crisis that has come again, I earnestly ask for your generous understanding that we must temporarily restrict your freedom and hinder economic activities," adding, "Since situations have occurred where it is unknown who infected whom, and cases of transmission within families have also emerged, please get tested immediately if you suspect any symptoms."

Once these strengthened quarantine measures are implemented, all gatherings and appointments are to be refrained from, and private gatherings of 10 or more people are strongly recommended to be canceled. Bathhouse businesses will face additional restrictions, including a ban on operating sauna and hanjeungmak facilities (sweat rooms), in addition to the current limits on the number of users and prohibition of food consumption.

For indoor sports facilities, in addition to the current suspension of operations after 9 PM and prohibition of food consumption, intense GX-type facilities (Zumba, Tae Bo, spinning, aerobics, step, kickboxing, etc.) will be banned from gathering.

In particular, Incheon City has additionally decided to ban the use of shower rooms in indoor sports facilities except for swimming pools.

Academies and private tutoring centers will face bans on lessons with a high possibility of droplet generation, such as wind instruments and singing, in addition to current restrictions on the number of users and prohibition of food consumption. This includes lessons operated at academies, tutoring centers, and cultural centers for vocal music, Korean traditional music, practical music, and singing classes. However, lessons for university entrance exams are exempt.

Operations of complex convenience facilities (community centers, etc.) within apartment and multi-family housing complexes, such as gyms, saunas, cafes, and reading rooms, will also be suspended.

Additionally, year-end and New Year events and parties hosted by lodging facilities such as hotels, party rooms, and guesthouses, which are frequented by young people, will be prohibited.

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