Suncheon-si, Social Distancing Raised to Level 2

Ban on Private Gatherings of 5 or More and Closure of Entertainment Venues from the 13th to the 23rd

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City raised social distancing to Level 2 as of 2 p.m. on the 13th.

Heo Seok, Mayor of Suncheon, held an emergency video briefing and stated that this situation is considered the greatest crisis as it is highly likely that the virus spread to an unspecified number of people through contacts related to entertainment establishments, overlapping with infection situations in nearby areas within the same living zone. Therefore, from 2 p.m. on the 13th until midnight on the 23rd, social distancing will be elevated to Level 2 and enforced.

With the upgrade to Level 2, private gatherings are limited to four people, and five types of entertainment facilities and holdem pubs are prohibited from gathering.

Direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales and bathhouses will suspend operations from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and during operating hours, the number of people is limited to one per 8㎡.

Karaoke rooms and indoor sports facilities will suspend operations from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and during operating hours, the number of people is limited to one per 4㎡.

Indoor standing performance venues and party rooms will suspend operations from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and restaurants and cafes are only allowed takeout and delivery during the same hours.

Additionally, religious activities are limited to attendance within 20% of seating capacity, and department stores and large marts are prohibited from offering samples, tastings, or trial products.

Some public multi-use facilities, including public sports facilities, will also be closed.

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon emphasized, “Suncheon is the central city of the eastern Jeollanam-do region and a crossroads of Yeongnam and Honam, so we must put more effort into quarantine measures than any other city.” He added, “The only way to overcome the current crisis is for each citizen to actively comply with and practice the quarantine rules in their respective positions.”

He continued, “We will apply a zero-tolerance policy and strongly sanction any violations of quarantine rules that threaten the safety of the community.”

Meanwhile, Suncheon reported a total of 20 confirmed cases, with 5 on the 12th and 15 on the 13th, of which 18 were confirmed to be workers or visitors related to nightclubs.

Some confirmed cases with unknown infection routes were also found to have visited these nightclubs.

The city is operating a temporary screening clinic in the parking lot in front of Joeun Plaza in Yeonhyang-dong to encourage voluntary COVID-19 testing through proactive diagnostic testing.

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