Special Year-End and New Year Quarantine Period from the 7th to the 3rd of Next Month... "Nationwide Management" (Update)

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[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) intensifies, the government has designated the period from the 7th of this month to the 3rd of next month as a special year-end and New Year quarantine period and is strengthening quarantine measures.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at the regular briefing of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 4th, "With many gatherings and events expected during the year-end and New Year holidays, including Christmas and New Year's holidays, the period from the 7th of this month to January 3rd of next year has been designated as a special year-end and New Year quarantine period, during which nationwide management will be implemented."

Yoon said, "Various events such as Christmas, religious ceremonies, and sunrise festivals should be conducted non-face-to-face as much as possible, and parties and events hosted by hotels and other accommodation facilities are recommended not to be held." However, to promote non-face-to-face dining, plans are being prepared to allow dining discount support to be used through delivery apps.

Yoon added, "We will also make thorough efforts to manage quarantine for students after the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) ends," and said, "Until December 22, the concentrated evaluation management period for each university, we recommend switching university academic operations to non-face-to-face, and will strengthen quarantine management at facilities expected to be crowded with examinees and parents, such as academies, areas around universities, and restaurants."

He also said that guidance will be provided to refrain from unnecessary outdoor activities such as participating in various events and discount promotions targeting examinees, and joint inspections and educational activities will be promoted for youth-access facilities such as PC rooms.

For ski resorts, where an increase in users is expected during the winter season, a full inspection of quarantine safety management will be conducted, and ski resorts, sledding hills, and skating rinks will be designated as general management facilities to strengthen quarantine management.

Additionally, large restaurants such as family restaurants and entertainment facilities will undergo special inspections during peak weekend hours, and private-public joint inspections will focus on compliance with quarantine rules at large amusement parks, movie theaters, and indoor sports facilities.

Yoon urged, "We ask for restraint in year-end and New Year travel to prevent the spread of infection between regions," and especially requested, "Residents of the metropolitan area are asked to refrain from traveling to other regions."

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