From the 23rd, Metropolitan Area Imposes 'Gathering Ban' for Groups of 5 or More (Comprehensive)

Today's Announcement ... Strong Measures Until the 3rd of Next Month

On the 14th, when the social distancing measures, which had been strengthened due to the resurgence of COVID-19, were downgraded to level 2, a restaurant owner in Seoul was preparing for business. Following the government's downgrade to social distancing level 2, franchise cafes, bakeries, and bingsu shops will be able to allow customers to sit and use the premises as before. General restaurants, snack bars, and bakeries, which were only allowed takeout and delivery after 9 p.m., will now permit dining inside the store regardless of the time. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] To curb the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), an administrative order banning gatherings of five or more people will be issued in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, starting as early as the 23rd.

Seoul City, Gyeonggi Province, Incheon City, and the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will announce this measure on the afternoon of the 21st. The ban on gatherings of five or more people is a stronger measure than the 'ban on gatherings of 10 or more people' applied at social distancing level 3. Once implemented, only gatherings of four or fewer people will be allowed, regardless of indoors or outdoors.

The administrative order is likely to take effect at 0:00 on the 23rd of this month, but there is also a possibility it could start earlier on the 22nd or a day later at 0:00 on the 24th. The duration under consideration is until midnight on the 3rd of next month (0:00 on the 4th).

This measure is understood to be based on the judgment that unless extraordinary measures are taken during the year-end and New Year holidays, when gatherings and movement increase significantly and the risk of infectious disease transmission is very high, the spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area could reach a catastrophic level. Moreover, as asymptomatic infections are being confirmed in various places, the authorities seem to have reached a consensus that a stronger response than the level 3 ban on gatherings of 10 or more people is necessary.

In Seoul, since the implementation of level 2 social distancing in the metropolitan area on the 24th of last month, a ban on gatherings has been applied to five types of entertainment facilities including clubs, room salons, karaoke bars, colatecs, and hunting pubs. Additionally, citizens have been prohibited from gathering in places such as door-to-door sales promotion centers, singing practice rooms, and indoor sports facilities. Furthermore, from the 5th of this month, preemptive measures were taken to stop operations after 9 p.m. at movie theaters, PC rooms, arcades, vocational training centers, beauty salons, reading rooms/study cafes, amusement parks, and large marts/department stores.

Currently, with social distancing in the metropolitan area elevated to level 2.5, seating at performance venues is spaced two seats apart, funeral halls are limited to 30 people per mourning room, and wedding halls restrict attendance to fewer than 50 people per wedding venue.

Regarding the ban on gatherings of five or more people in the metropolitan area, the specific industries and types of gatherings to which it will apply are still under discussion. However, it is reported that measures forcing restaurants or shops to close entirely are not included, in order to minimize inconvenience to citizens and damage to small business owners.

Earlier, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung stated on social media on the 17th that he is considering issuing an administrative order banning gatherings of five or more people and will consult with metropolitan local governments to coordinate efforts. Accordingly, Seoul City and Gyeonggi Province agreed on joint implementation, and Incheon City also plans to participate but will coordinate the specific application date with Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of 0:00 on this day, there were 926 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. Although this is 171 fewer than the previous record high of 1,097 cases the day before, it is the highest number recorded on a holiday. The number of deaths among those confirmed with COVID-19, including those who died while receiving treatment or were posthumously confirmed positive, reached 24, the highest since the first confirmed case on January 20.

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