Gwangju City Extends Social Distancing Level 2 for 2 Weeks Starting from the 4th

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop is holding an online briefing on COVID-19 at the city hall briefing room on the morning of the 2nd. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City will extend social distancing level 2 for two weeks.

On the 2nd, at 11:30 a.m., Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop announced through an online briefing regarding COVID-19 response, "In accordance with the government’s policy that prohibits local governments from easing restrictions, government quarantine measures will be implemented from the 4th to the 17th."

Accordingly, private gatherings of five or more people are prohibited. Reservations and accompanied entry of five or more people at multi-use facilities such as restaurants are also prohibited. However, exceptions are made for gatherings of family members living in the same residence, cases requiring care for children, the elderly, or disabled persons, and gatherings of family members when there is a possibility of a deathbed situation.

Gatherings and events of 100 or more people such as weddings, funerals, and commemorative ceremonies are prohibited. Essential official and corporate business activities are excluded, and exams are allowed with fewer than 100 people in divided spaces. For exhibitions, fairs, and international conferences, the 100-person limit does not apply, but the number of people is limited to one per 4㎡ of facility area.

Restaurants are prohibited from accepting reservations and accompanied entry of five or more people, and as currently, only takeout and delivery are allowed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. Cafes and unmanned cafes are allowed only takeout and delivery throughout their business hours.

All convenience facilities within apartment complexes (including gyms) and cultural and educational classes at community centers will be completely suspended.

Academies (including private tutoring centers) and vocational training institutions must comply with one of the following: limit the number of people to one per 8㎡ or maintain two-seat spacing, or limit the number of people to one per 4㎡ or maintain one-seat spacing and suspend operations from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.

Bathhouses will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and when operating, the number of people is limited to one per 4㎡ of facility area. Saunas and Korean-style steam rooms within bathhouses will be completely closed.

Amusement parks will limit the number of visitors to one-third of their capacity, and beauty salons and barbershops must either limit the number of people to one per 8㎡ or enforce mandatory two-seat spacing.

Social welfare facilities will maintain quarantine rules stricter than government guidelines. Visits to nursing hospitals/facilities and psychiatric hospitals are prohibited, and external access is controlled. Workers are prohibited from visiting other facilities or private gatherings except for commuting, and must undergo mandatory PCR testing every two weeks.

Additionally, social welfare usage facilities can operate at 50% or less of their capacity, and meals for users within the facilities are prohibited.

Religious activities are limited to non-face-to-face worship, mass, Buddhist ceremonies, and memorial services; gatherings and meals are prohibited. Interregional exchanges and invitation events are also not allowed.

The five types of entertainment facilities (nightclubs, colatecs, karaoke bars, emotional pubs, hunting pubs), as well as holdem pubs, party rooms, recreational sports clubs, and group sports activities remain banned from gathering.

Furthermore, Mayor Lee Yong-seop recommended that public institutions encourage at least one-third of their workforce to work from home and actively utilize staggered lunch hours, and that private companies also improve work arrangements such as telecommuting for at least one-third of employees (excluding essential personnel) to comply with quarantine rules at workplaces.

The temporary screening clinic at the city hall outdoor plaza will continue to operate.

Since its operation began on the 27th of last month, a total of 1,824 people have been tested at the temporary screening clinic as of the 1st, with 12 confirmed cases identified.

The temporary screening clinic offers free anonymous testing to any citizen regardless of symptoms or epidemiological links such as contact with confirmed cases.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "I deeply regret that the pain and inconvenience for citizens will inevitably continue for some time in the new year. Please join forces a little more to block the spread of COVID-19."

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