Government: "If Resurgence Occurs, Thousands of Patients and a Major Outbreak... Current Social Distancing Measures Maintained" (Comprehensive)

Maintaining 'Ban on Private Gatherings of 5 People' During Lunar New Year Holiday... Social Distancing to Be Reconsidered in One Week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government will maintain the current 'social distancing' measures?Level 2.5 in the Seoul metropolitan area and Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas?from midnight on the 1st of next month until midnight on the 14th, for two weeks. This decision is due to the difficulty in accurately determining whether the recent increase in confirmed cases is a temporary phenomenon and concerns over additional infection spread during the Seollal holiday.

Kang Do-tae, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the COVID-19 regular briefing on the 31st, "COVID-19 cases have generally been decreasing, but recently, the number of patients has been increasing due to cluster infections."

Kang said, "The recent increase in cases has brought the daily average number of domestic patients over the past week (January 25?31) to around 420, which falls within the Level 2.5 social distancing criteria (400?500). It is difficult to accurately determine whether this pattern is a temporary phenomenon caused by cluster infections such as the IM Mission or a reversal into an increasing trend."

Kang emphasized, "With the Seollal holiday approaching, interregional movement, travel, and gatherings are expected to increase, raising the risk of infection spread. It is necessary to stably reduce the number of cases for the smooth progress of vaccinations starting in February and the academic schedule beginning in March."

During Seollal Holiday, Even Immediate Family Members Cannot Gather in Groups of Five or More if They Live Separately
Violators Subject to Fines up to 100,000 KRW

Kang stated, "Considering the increased risk of movement during the Seollal holiday, special measures such as the ban on private gatherings of five or more people will be maintained for two weeks regardless of the epidemic situation. The ban on private gatherings of five or more will be extended nationwide for two weeks until the Seollal holiday to minimize the possibility of infection spread through personal meetings and contacts."

Accordingly, the ban on private gatherings of five or more will be strictly applied during the Seollal holiday period, and even immediate family members living separately cannot gather in groups of five or more. Violators will be fined up to 100,000 KRW.

Kang urged, "We ask that people refrain from returning to their hometowns and traveling as much as possible during the Seollal holiday and instead exchange greetings remotely."

However, as social distancing continues for a long time, small business owners are complaining about difficulties in their livelihoods due to ongoing operational restrictions and gathering bans, and there are concerns about declining public participation. Therefore, the government will monitor the trend of case occurrences and infection patterns over the next week and reconsider adjustments to social distancing levels, gathering bans, and operational restrictions after one week.

Kang explained, "Considering the difficulty in judging the current epidemic situation, we plan to reassess the trend of case occurrences and the risk of resurgence in a week and review whether to ease quarantine rules for multi-use facilities."

In the Seoul metropolitan area, with Level 2.5 social distancing maintained, gatherings and events of 50 or more people are prohibited. Operating restrictions after 9 p.m. remain in place for multi-use facilities such as movie theaters, PC rooms, arcades, study rooms, amusement parks, beauty salons, and large supermarkets.

In non-metropolitan areas, with Level 2 social distancing maintained, gatherings and events of 100 or more people are prohibited.

Shower Room Use Allowed in Indoor Sports Facilities in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Ski Resort Operating Restrictions After 9 p.m. Lifted

However, the government will ease quarantine rules for multi-use facilities, reflecting opinions from associations and organizations, addressing some fairness issues raised.

For performance halls and movie theaters, considering that no cluster infections have occurred and masks can be worn at all times, the quarantine rules will be adjusted to require one empty seat between non-companions at Levels 1.5 and 2, and two empty seats between non-companions at Level 2.5.

Also, although shower room use was prohibited in indoor sports facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area, the government will relax this by allowing shower room use with one seat spacing. When not using changing rooms or shower rooms, quarantine rules such as social distancing and mask-wearing must be followed to minimize infection risk.

The operating restriction after 9 p.m. for winter sports facilities such as ski resorts will also be lifted. However, shuttle bus services to other regions to reduce movement will remain suspended.

Kang expressed concern, saying, "There are still many patients in the 400 range, and nationwide occurrence patterns continue. If a resurgence occurs, there is a risk of a large-scale epidemic with thousands of patients emerging in a short time."

He added, "We sincerely regret and apologize to many self-employed people and citizens struggling with social distancing, but we ask for your cooperation to overcome this crisis a little longer."

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