Gwangju City Extends Social Distancing Level 1.5 for 2 Weeks

Maintaining Ban on Private Gatherings of 5 or More... Prohibition of Food Consumption Except at Food Sales Facilities

On the morning of the 19th, vaccination candidates are filling out pre-screening forms at Gwangju No. 1 COVID-19 Regional Vaccination Center, where a drill was conducted.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The social distancing level 1.5 in Gwangju Metropolitan City will be extended for two weeks.

According to Gwangju City on the 26th, from the 29th of this month to the 11th of next month, the current level 2 in the metropolitan area and level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas will be maintained.

Considering the ongoing situation with daily confirmed cases consistently in the 400s and increased mobility due to spring, easing restrictions is difficult, and strengthening them is also challenging due to public fatigue, explained the quarantine authorities.

The ban on private gatherings of five or more people will continue. However, exceptions for cohabiting family members, direct relatives, formal meetings, and infants will also be maintained.

The quarantine authorities judged that early implementation of the 'Basic Quarantine Rules,' prepared for the revision of social distancing to strengthen quarantine vigilance, is necessary, so the current four basic quarantine rules have been strengthened to seven.

Added are mandatory mask-wearing, posting and guidance of quarantine rules, management of visitor logs, periodic disinfection and ventilation, prohibition of food consumption, symptom checks and entry restrictions, and designation and operation of quarantine managers.

First, in indoor multi-use facilities and workplaces, masks must be worn at all times in the correct way covering the mouth and nose, and removing masks is prohibited.

Also, all visitors to multi-use facilities must fill out visitor logs via electronic entry logs or simple phone check-ins. Currently, all visitors are required to fill out logs, but actual compliance has been insufficient, so log completion has been made mandatory.

Food consumption is completely prohibited in general management facilities such as indoor sports facilities, except in food sales ancillary facilities.

Furthermore, while quarantine managers have been designated and operated mainly in priority management facilities, from the 29th, quarantine managers responsible for overall facility and workplace quarantine will be designated, and symptom checks of workers and sending symptomatic workers home will be added.

Detailed quarantine rules will also be supplemented.

Restrictions on the duration of stay in restaurants and cafes, prohibition of moving between tables, and use of shared tongs will be added.

It is strongly recommended to limit the time spent inside the store to one hour when two or more people order only coffee, beverages, or simple desserts.

Additionally, dancing is prohibited in all spaces within facilities, moving between tables is prohibited, and it is recommended to use hand sanitizer or disposable gloves before and after using shared tongs, plates, and utensils, and to maintain distance between users while waiting to serve food.

In bathhouse businesses, prohibitions on private conversations and refraining from using shared items have been added.

Bathhouse attendants are prohibited from conversing with users inside the bathhouse, private conversations in changing rooms and bathhouses are prohibited, and it is recommended to refrain from using shared items (hairdryers, combs, lotions, etc.) and fans.

In religious facilities, loud group prayers or recitations are prohibited, choir activities (except solo singing) are banned, provision of shared books and other shared items is prohibited, food and group meals are banned, and quarantine rules apply to shared spaces such as lounges and pantries within the facility.

A Gwangju City quarantine official said, “If you have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, or nasal congestion, or if you feel unwell, please get tested immediately at the nearest screening clinic. If medical staff at hospitals or pharmacies recommend diagnostic testing due to cold-like symptoms, please get tested immediately and refrain from using multi-use facilities.”

He added, “As the spring outing season approaches, when going on trips, please travel in small groups such as family and keep trips short-distance (day trips). If you have symptoms such as fever, please cancel or postpone your trip.”

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