Starting Today, 'Holdem Pub' Business Prohibited... Ski Resorts Requested to Cease Operations After 9 PM

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunbyeol Kim] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is likely to increase further, 'Hold'em pubs' where people drink alcohol and play card games will be effectively banned from operating for ten days starting today. In unmanned cafes, sitting inside the store or eating and drinking on-site will be prohibited.

On the 19th, the quarantine authorities decided to strengthen management of blind spots in quarantine measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

First, for Hold'em pubs where people drink alcohol and play card games, a 'gathering ban' order, which is equivalent to an effective business suspension, was issued for ten days from today until the 28th. In unmanned cafes, sitting inside the store or eating and drinking on-site is completely prohibited.

Quarantine measures related to ski resorts, a representative winter sport, will also be strengthened. The government plans to request local governments to stop ski resort operations after 9 p.m. in non-metropolitan areas where social distancing level 2 is currently in effect. This corresponds to level 2.5 measures.

The government is also continuing to review the possibility of raising the social distancing level to level 3.

However, considering the enormous damage that raising to level 3 would cause to self-employed and small business owners, the decision will be made as cautiously as possible, and even if the level is raised to 3, detailed measures will be adjusted to minimize damage. Regarding detailed measures, internal discussions are underway on allowing the purchase of daily necessities at large supermarkets or traditional markets, and permitting only takeout and delivery for restaurants, similar to cafes.

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight today, the number of new domestic COVID-19 confirmed cases was counted at 1,053. This marks the fourth consecutive day with cases in the 1,000s, following 1,078 → 1,014 → 1,062 from the 16th to the 18th.

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