Ski Resorts Opening Amid Social Distancing Level 2.5... "What's the Point of Closing PC Rooms and Karaoke?"

Skiers lined up closely waiting to board the lift at a ski resort in Gangwon-do [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] "What’s the point of strengthening social distancing? Thousands of people will flock to ski resorts on the weekend anyway."

This is the complaint from citizens who heard about the crowds at ski resorts last weekend. Ski resorts are opening one after another amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Although the social distancing level has been raised to 2.5, ski resorts, which are considered outdoor sports facilities, have no restrictions on usage time, raising concerns that they could become another 'blind spot' in quarantine measures. In particular, there are concerns that people frustrated by the ban on year-end gatherings may flock to outdoor ski resorts.

With social distancing in the metropolitan area strengthened to level 2.5, academies, theaters, karaoke rooms, and restaurants must close by 9 p.m. However, night skiing is unrestricted. Although quarantine authorities recently announced plans to strengthen quarantine at ski resorts, ski resorts, being outdoor sports facilities, do not limit operating hours.

On Saturday, Lee Jong-sung (32), who visited a ski resort near the metropolitan area, said, "There was no social distancing at all in places like the lifts and restaurants where skiers gather," adding, "Especially in cold weather, where immunity is lowered, many users were careless about wearing masks."

Private rental shops and restaurants near ski resorts are typical places where quarantine rules break down. Lee said, "Because tickets are purchased based on specific time slots, many people gathered at the same time, increasing the risk of infection," and added, "I wanted to get some fresh air outdoors by visiting the ski resort, but this year I plan to refrain from using it."

Ski resorts that opened amid the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak say they are paying close attention to quarantine. Usually, domestic ski resorts open around early to mid-November, but this year the schedule was delayed to early to mid-December due to COVID-19. To prevent infection, some places have limited lift riders to two people and installed transparent partitions at ski equipment rental shops. Wearing masks indoors and outdoors is mandatory, and temperature checks are conducted to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "Earlier this year, a COVID-19 cluster infection occurred at a ski resort in Switzerland, spreading to the UK and across Europe," adding, "There are concerns about crowds flocking to ski resorts during winter."

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