Geochang-gun Implements Relaxation to Social Distancing Level 1.5

Restaurant and Cafe Operating Hour Restrictions Lifted, Ban on Private Gatherings of 5 or More Maintained

Geochang County Public Health Center exterior. (Photo by Geochang County)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province announced that it will ease the social distancing level to Level 1.5 from the 15th to the 28th in accordance with the government's adjustment policy for social distancing in non-metropolitan areas.

This measure reflects the recent gradual decline in the spread of COVID-19 in non-metropolitan areas and the social acceptability considering the prolonged ban on gatherings and operational restrictions on self-employed and small business owners, which have caused difficulties in the local economy.

Regarding the adjustment of the level, the ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities such as nightclubs and karaoke bars will be lifted, but business hours will be limited until 10 p.m., and core quarantine rules such as restrictions on the number of users, prohibition of dancing, prohibition of movement between tables and rooms, and mandatory use of electronic entry logs will be strengthened. Door-to-door sales promotion centers will also be restricted to operate until 10 p.m.

The ban on private gatherings of five or more people will be extended for two weeks to minimize the effect of easing quarantine measures due to the level adjustment and to prevent transmission between individuals, but exceptions will be allowed for immediate family members.

Multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, indoor sports facilities, karaoke rooms, and movie theaters will have their operating hour restrictions lifted under compliance with quarantine rules. For lodging facilities, the prohibition on exceeding the room capacity will be maintained, but the previous restriction allowing reservations only up to two-thirds of the rooms will be lifted.

Religious activities such as worship, mass, and Buddhist ceremonies can be attended by up to 30% of the seating capacity, but gatherings and meals hosted by religious activities will remain prohibited.

Gu In-mo, the mayor of Geochang-gun, said, "Although the spread of COVID-19 is decreasing, the daily number of confirmed cases is between 300 and 400, and a resurgence can occur at any time," and urged, "All residents should become the main agents of quarantine and participate in complying with quarantine rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Geochang-gun plans to establish a voluntary quarantine compliance inspection and monitoring system with facility-related associations and organizations, conduct campaigns and recommend behavioral guidelines for residents regarding high-risk activities when using multi-use facilities, and impose fines and a two-week ban on gatherings for businesses that violate quarantine rules.

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