Busan Raised to 'Level 2.5'... Emergency Mobilization Order for Dormitories and Private Training Facilities Under Review

Busan City to Implement Measures for Two Weeks from 0:00 on the 15th to 24:00 on the 28th

On the 14th, citizens are undergoing diagnostic tests at a temporary screening clinic set up in the plaza of Seoul Station.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] From midnight on the 15th, social distancing in Busan will be raised to level 2.5.

As the spread of COVID-19 in the Busan area has not subsided, the Busan city government has strengthened quarantine measures further.

On the 14th, Byun Seong-wan, Acting Mayor of Busan, announced directly at a press briefing that from midnight on the 15th until midnight on the 28th, a two-week period, social distancing level 2.5 will be applied and additional quarantine reinforcement measures will be implemented to contain COVID-19.

Acting Mayor Byun Seong-wan stated, “Except for the metropolitan area, the daily confirmed case trend is the most severe nationwide,” and added, “Considering the seriousness of the infection situation and the upcoming year-end and New Year holidays, we could not help but consider raising to level 3, but taking into account the local economy that would suffer irreparable damage, we decided on level 2.5.”

Accordingly, in addition to the five types of entertainment facilities already prohibited from gathering, direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales, singing practice rooms, indoor standing concert halls, and indoor sports facilities will also be prohibited from gathering.

Restaurants will only be allowed takeout and delivery from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and cafes will only be allowed takeout and delivery throughout their entire business hours.

Furthermore, most multi-use facilities such as movie theaters, PC rooms, arcades and multi-rooms, academies, private tutoring centers, vocational training institutions, reading rooms, study cafes, water parks, amusement parks, hair and beauty salons, stores, marts, department stores, convenience stores, and street food stalls must suspend operations from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.

The existing gathering ban on entertainment bars such as clubs, room salons, colatecs, danran bars, emotional bars, and hunting pochas will continue.

All gatherings and events with 50 or more participants, including weddings and funerals, are completely banned. Religious activities must be held as non-face-to-face religious meetings.

Acting Mayor Byun Seong-wan pointed out that infections have been continuously occurring recently in various private gatherings and club activities, strongly recommending refraining from private gatherings of 10 or more people.

Considering the ongoing cluster infections in nursing hospitals, the current cycle of proactive testing for workers will be shortened from 4 weeks to 1 week, and an administrative order will be issued temporarily banning workers from attending unnecessary private gatherings and club activities.

In response to the surge in confirmed cases, hospital beds and residential treatment centers will be proactively secured. Busan city has opened an additional residential treatment center with 75 rooms and plans to secure additional severe patient beds by converting some general patient beds.

Preparing for the worst-case scenario of 100 to 200 confirmed cases per day, Busan National University Hospital and the Southeast Regional Radiation Medicine Institute will cooperate to secure additional private medical beds.

Measures such as emergency mobilization orders under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act are also being considered to convert university dormitories and training facilities into residential treatment centers.

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