Current 'Social Distancing' Extended for 2 More Weeks... Mandatory 'Electronic Entry Logs' for Entertainment Venues (Comprehensive)

Metropolitan Area Level 2, Non-Metropolitan Area Level 1.5 Maintained
'Private Gatherings of 5 or More Prohibited' Also Remain in Effect

Separate Quarantine Rules Established for Dance Halls and Colatecs
Mandatory Electronic Entry Logs for Entertainment Facilities and Colatecs
"Obligation to Prevent False Information"

Prohibition of Food Consumption in Priority and General Management Facilities

On the 26th, citizens are waiting in line for COVID-19 testing at the temporary screening clinic in Jung-gu, Seoul Station Plaza. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The current social distancing measures, which were scheduled to end on the 28th, will be extended for two more weeks until the 11th of next month. Key quarantine rules, including the ban on private gatherings of five or more people, will also be maintained.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the morning of the 26th, "The government will maintain the current social distancing levels (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) and the ban on gatherings of five or more people for two weeks starting next week."

This measure reflects the government's concern that as the third wave of the pandemic has prolonged for several months and with spring approaching, citizens' vigilance may ease, raising fears of a fourth wave. Additionally, with the spread of variant viruses, it is difficult to ease the reins on quarantine measures.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters reported that as of midnight on the same day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 494 from the previous day to 100,770. This is the highest number in 35 days since March 19, approaching 500 cases.

The infection routes of new confirmed cases were 471 domestic cases and 23 imported cases. Notably, the weekly daily average of domestic cases as of the 26th reached 414, maintaining the 400 range for three consecutive weeks. This meets the nationwide Level 2.5 escalation criteria of a weekly average of 400 to 500 or more cases.

Mandatory Electronic Entry Logs for Entertainment Facilities... Ban on Food Consumption in Key and General Management Facilities

The authorities also announced supplementary quarantine measures to address some shortcomings revealed through cluster infection cases. For dance halls, considering that indoor sports facility quarantine rules had been applied and that these rules were more relaxed compared to similar facilities like colatecs, 'Dance Hall and Colatec Quarantine Rules' will be established and applied.

From now on, dance halls and colatecs must follow rules including ▲one person per 8 square meters of facility area ▲prohibition of food consumption except water and non-alcoholic beverages ▲wearing masks during dance activities involving physical contact with others ▲maintaining at least 1 meter distance from others engaged in different dance activities involving contact.

Additionally, the 'basic quarantine rules' that must always be followed regardless of the social distancing level will be strengthened and applied starting from the 29th. Previously, nine types of key management facilities (▲five types of entertainment facilities ▲karaoke rooms ▲indoor standing concert halls ▲direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales ▲restaurants and cafes) and 15 types of general management facilities (▲outdoor winter sports facilities ▲PC rooms ▲wedding halls ▲funeral halls ▲academies (including private tutoring centers) ▲vocational training institutions ▲performance halls ▲movie theaters ▲amusement parks and water parks ▲arcades and multi-rooms ▲bathing establishments ▲indoor sports facilities ▲hair and beauty salons ▲stores, marts, and department stores ▲reading rooms and study cafes) totaling 24 types of facilities had different quarantine rules applied depending on the social distancing level.

However, to strengthen daily life quarantine, basic quarantine rules will now be uniformly applied to these facilities regardless of the distancing level. In addition, nine more facilities including ▲sports stadiums (spectators) ▲casinos ▲bicycle racing, horse racing, and motorboat racing tracks ▲art galleries and museums ▲libraries ▲kids cafes ▲exhibitions and fairs ▲international conferences ▲massage and therapy centers will also be included in the application scope.

These facilities must comply with rules such as ▲wearing masks ▲keeping entry logs ▲ventilation and disinfection ▲prohibition of food consumption ▲restricting entry of symptomatic individuals ▲appointing quarantine managers ▲posting the allowed number of users.

Citizens are heading home past 9 p.m. on a street near Jamsilsaenae Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where entertainment establishments have opened their signs.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, for entry logs, entertainment facilities, colatecs, and hold'em pubs must use electronic entry logs only. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, explained at a briefing, "These facilities had difficulties in epidemiological investigations due to the inaccuracy of handwritten logs. To prevent false information, we strengthened the management by mandating electronic entry logs as the basic method of entry management, and explicitly made this mandatory in the basic quarantine rules."

Also, previously, food consumption was prohibited in general management facilities such as indoor sports facilities starting from Level 2 distancing, but from the 29th, food consumption will be banned in all facilities except those intended for dining such as restaurants and cafes or food sales ancillary facilities, regardless of distancing level.

For example, previously, libraries in non-metropolitan areas at Level 1.5 distancing had no restrictions on food consumption, but from the 29th, food consumption will be prohibited regardless of the distancing level. However, if there is a separate cafe or restaurant inside the library, or if there are 'ㄷ-shaped partitions' allowing food consumption, eating will be permitted.

Special Quarantine Measures for Spring Outings

The authorities designated the period from the 27th to the 30th of next month as a focused quarantine management period for spring outings. During this period, major natural parks, recreational forests, arboretums, temples, amusement parks, resorts, and local festival sites nationwide will be intensively inspected. For natural parks, recreational forests, resorts, and tourist sites, a basic distance of 2 meters (at least 1 meter) will be maintained, and entry prohibition lines and one-way paths will be operated on main trails. Additionally, accommodation facilities in recreational forests and arboretums will operate on a reservation system, and cable cars will be recommended to limit passengers to 50% capacity to reduce crowding.

Seoul City also canceled 17 out of 23 planned spring festivals and will operate 4 events strictly following quarantine rules. The Yeouido Spring Flower Festival will allow visits only to those who pre-register, and the Yangjaecheon Cherry Blossom Festival and Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival will be held online.

On the afternoon of the 14th, Yeouido Hangang Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, was bustling with citizens enjoying the spring. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung and Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol will receive AstraZeneca vaccinations at a health center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon of the same day. Prime Minister Chung said in a briefing the day before, "I hope more people will get vaccinated," adding, "After careful consideration, I decided to get vaccinated to help the public feel that 'getting vaccinated is beneficial and not very risky.'"

Earlier, on the 23rd, President Moon Jae-in received the AstraZeneca vaccine. The authorities are reportedly exploring ways to dispel public doubts by having key figures such as Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Director Jeong Eun-kyeong receive vaccinations as well.

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