Social Distancing in the Capital Area Raised to Level 2.5 from 0:00 on the 8th... Non-Capital Areas at Level 2 (Comprehensive)

Applied for 3 weeks until the 28th of this month... "Nationwide pandemic on the verge of expansion"

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at Seoul City Hall on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area will be raised to Level 2.5 starting from the 8th of this month, while non-metropolitan areas will be uniformly raised to Level 2.

On the 6th, Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the regular briefing on the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), "Currently, the spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area has entered a full-scale pandemic stage, and it is a dangerous situation on the verge of expanding into a nationwide pandemic," explaining the decision.

Head Park said, "We are raising social distancing in the metropolitan area to Level 2.5, which corresponds to strict restrictions on social activities, and raising it to Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas to block the spread of the epidemic."

The application period is from 0:00 on the 8th (Tuesday) to 24:00 on the 28th (Monday), lasting three weeks.

Head Park said, "From the 30th of last month to the 6th of this month, the daily average number of domestic cases over one week was 514, of which 375 were in the metropolitan area," adding, "Since last Thursday, more than 500 cases nationwide and 400 cases in the metropolitan area have been occurring daily, and as of today, the weekly daily average has exceeded 500, the upper limit for Level 2.5."

"No Effect Seen from Raising Distancing Levels"
Preemptive Blocking Difficult Due to Spread of Infections in Daily Life

The government judged that the effect of previously implemented increases in social distancing levels to block the COVID-19 spread and reduce cases has been minimal. Head Park said, "Although it is the time when the effect of distancing should appear, the effect of blocking the spread and reducing cases is not sufficiently evident," expressing concern that "the effect is likely to remain limited going forward."

This is because, unlike the outbreak in August, the current spread is occurring throughout daily life without a central cluster, making preemptive blocking through testing and isolation difficult.

In particular, the number of patients continues to increase, and the burden on the medical system is growing. Head Park said, "There are 55 intensive care unit beds nationwide and 20 in the metropolitan area remaining, but if the current trend of increasing patients continues, a shortage of ICU beds may occur within 1 to 2 weeks."

Head Park emphasized, "The metropolitan area has now entered a pandemic stage, and this is a time when we all must implement extraordinary measures with a strong resolve to prevent the spread into a nationwide pandemic and to avoid the collapse of the medical system."

The government views the situation as very serious, with 400 to 500 cases occurring daily mainly in the metropolitan area, and cases generally increasing in non-metropolitan areas as well.

With more than 400 cases daily in the metropolitan area over the past four days, over 70% of new cases are concentrated there. This is the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak that daily cases in the metropolitan area have exceeded 400.

The government implemented Level 1.5 in the metropolitan area on the 19th of last month, Level 2 on the 24th, and strengthened measures within Level 2 on the 1st of this month, but the spread has not been contained.

In non-metropolitan areas, sporadic cluster infections continue in various cities and provinces, spreading beyond any single region, and cases of people who had contact with metropolitan area patients testing positive locally are frequently occurring.

Head Park said, "Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area is a strong measure imposing strict restrictions on social activities and is the last line of defense before Level 3," adding, "The goal of this measure is to reduce daily cases in the metropolitan area to around 150 to 200."

Gathering Ban on Academies, Karaoke Rooms, and Indoor Sports Facilities in the Metropolitan Area
"Academy Gathering Ban Included Due to Concerns of Infection Among Young Adults"

With the implementation of Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area, restrictions on daily life and economic activities have become inevitable.

This measure bans gatherings at karaoke rooms, direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales, indoor sports facilities like gyms and billiard halls, and indoor standing performance venues.

To minimize outings and movement of office workers and students on vacation, telecommuting and remote classes will be expanded, and academies (including private tutoring centers) will be banned from gathering. The quarantine authorities explained, "Although academies were not originally subject to gathering bans under Level 2.5, due to growing concerns about infections among young adults, they have now been included."

To maximize the suspension of meetings and appointments, operation of major multi-use facilities such as restaurants, movie theaters, PC rooms, beauty salons, arcades, large marts, department stores, and amusement parks will be restricted after 9 p.m.

Cafes will be prohibited from allowing in-store seating and only takeout and delivery will be permitted, and sauna and jjimjilbang facilities in bathhouses will be closed.

Residents of the metropolitan area are strongly advised to refrain from traveling or business trips to other regions, and booking for transportation such as KTX and express buses is recommended to be limited to within 50% capacity.

Gatherings and events such as weddings, commemorations, and briefings will have their participant limits tightened from 100 to fewer than 50 people, and parties or events hosted at accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses, and party rooms are banned regardless of the number of participants.

Religious activities are to be conducted primarily through non-face-to-face services such as online worship, Buddhist ceremonies, Mass, and memorial services (with participation limited to 20 people), and gatherings and meals hosted by religious facilities are prohibited.

Facilities where high-risk activities such as long conversations, explanations, singing, and sports mainly occur and that do not belong to essential industries or economic sectors will be banned from gathering or switched to non-face-to-face services.

Non-Metropolitan Areas Also Raised to Level 2 Uniformly
Gathering Ban on Five Types of Entertainment Facilities Including Clubs

Considering the daily living zones in Korea and the serious situation in the metropolitan area, all regions outside the metropolitan area will be raised to Level 2 from 0:00 on the 8th. However, local governments have been granted autonomy to adjust quarantine measures according to regional circumstances.

Accordingly, restaurants will only be allowed takeout and delivery after 9 p.m., and five types of entertainment facilities (clubs and other entertainment pubs, karaoke bars, emotional pubs, hunting pubs, and colatecs) will be banned from gathering.

All cafes will only be allowed takeout and delivery, and indoor sports facilities such as karaoke rooms, gyms, and billiard halls will cease operations after 9 p.m.

Brunch cafes and bakery cafes registered as general restaurants will only be allowed takeout and delivery when ordering coffee, beverages, and desserts.

In non-metropolitan areas, various gatherings and events such as weddings, commemorations, and lectures must be held with fewer than 100 people, and measures to reduce crowd density in daily life, such as reducing the number of students attending school and participants in regular religious events, will be implemented.

With the expansion of mandatory mask-wearing to all indoor areas, a fine of 100,000 won will be imposed if masks are not worn anywhere indoors.

Head Park urged, "Residents of the metropolitan area are in a dangerous situation where infection can occur anytime and anywhere," adding, "Except for essential outings, you must stay at home and cancel all meetings and appointments."

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