[Q&A] Eating Not Allowed in Libraries and Stadiums, Allowed in Kids Cafes and International Conference Halls

Current Social Distancing Measures Maintained Until the 11th of Next Month... "All Multi-use Facilities Must Keep Entry Logs"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reached the 400s on the 28th, the government decided to maintain the current 'social distancing (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas)' until midnight on the 11th of next month. Accordingly, private gatherings of five or more people are prohibited, and restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area can only serve customers until 10 p.m.

However, as the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the government has strengthened quarantine management by requiring all visitors to multi-use facilities to fill out entry logs and banning food consumption in stadiums and libraries. Here is a summary of the updated quarantine rules.

Q. Please specify the places where food consumption is prohibited.

A. The 21 types of businesses include: colateks and dance halls, direct sales promotion centers, karaoke rooms, indoor standing concert halls, bathhouses, movie theaters and performance halls, PC rooms, arcades and multi-rooms, indoor sports facilities, academies, reading rooms and study cafes, outdoor sports facilities, sports stadiums, hair and beauty salons, religious facilities, casinos, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing, art galleries and museums, libraries, exhibitions and fairs, massage parlors and massage shops.

Q. Is food consumption allowed in kids cafes and international conference centers?

A. Yes. In principle, kids cafes and international conferences are subject to the food consumption ban, but considering that kids cafes are mainly used by infants and young children, making strict enforcement difficult, and that some places do not clearly separate dining areas from restaurants or cafes, food consumption is allowed in kids cafes that have separate dining spaces.

International conference centers are given exceptions because meals may be inevitably required during long meetings. In such cases, a 1-meter distance between tables or leaving one seat or table empty, or installing partitions between tables must be observed. Individual meal service is allowed, but buffets are prohibited.

Q. Is food consumption allowed while waiting outside movie theaters?

A. Yes. If food is consumed in facilities registered as restaurants, such as lobbies outside screening rooms, and quarantine rules such as distancing between tables or leaving one seat empty are followed, food consumption is permitted.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Q. Is eating food allowed in PC rooms?

A. Food consumption is allowed only if there is a 'ㄷ-shaped' partition.

Q. Have any rules been added that must always be followed in multi-use facilities regardless of distancing levels?

A. Previously, four rules applied: wearing masks, posting and informing about quarantine rules, managing entry logs, and periodic disinfection and ventilation. Going forward, three more rules will be added: prohibition of food consumption, restricting entry of symptomatic individuals, and designation of quarantine managers.

Q. Must all users fill out entry logs when entering multi-use facilities?

A. Yes. Although it was previously the principle for all to fill out logs, in practice often only one representative filled them out. From now on, everyone must fill them out.

Q. When will the basic quarantine rules be enforced?

A. A one-week grace period (March 29 to April 4) will be given to allow time for preparation on-site. During this period, no penalties such as fines will be imposed for violations of basic quarantine rules. After the grace period, anyone caught eating in the 21 types of businesses where food consumption is prohibited will be fined 100,000 KRW per person.

Q. Have quarantine measures for dance halls and colateks been strengthened?

A. Yes. The measures include: limiting occupancy to one person per 8 square meters (2.4 pyeong), prohibiting food consumption except for water and non-alcoholic beverages, requiring mask-wearing during dance activities involving contact with others, and maintaining at least 1 meter distance from others engaged in different dance activities during contact dances.

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