Gangwon-do, 'Social Distancing' Revamped... Special Incentives for Vaccine Recipients Supported

Excluding Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung, Private Gatherings Allowed Up to 8 People
Providing Differentiated Incentives by Target... Encouraging Vaccination

Reference photo [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangwon Province will pilot a 'Social Distancing Reform Plan' based on local autonomy and responsibility starting from the 14th, and will promote a 'special incentive' support plan to encourage residents' participation in COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the province on the 11th, the existing five-level system will be simplified to four levels, and in consultation with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, it will be adjusted to levels 1 to 3 by city and county. (Level 4 is under the decision and adjustment authority of the Central Disaster Headquarters)

The stepwise criteria for private gatherings are limited to 8 people at level 2, 4 people at level 3, and 2 people after 6 PM (4 people before 6 PM) at level 4.

Multi-use facilities will be reclassified into groups 1, 2, and 3 according to risk level, minimizing operational regulations focused on essential measures to block the spread.

However, the number of users per facility area will be adjusted from level 1, such as 1 person per 6㎡. At level 4, except for clubs, nightclubs, hunting pocha, and emotional pubs, there is no ban on gatherings.

Religious facilities will limit in-person religious activities to 50% of capacity at level 1, 30% at level 2, and 20% at level 3. At level 4, only non-face-to-face religious activities are allowed, and gatherings, meals, and accommodations hosted by religious facilities are prohibited from level 2.

The pilot application areas will apply level 1 of the reform plan regardless of the existing number of confirmed cases. If the total weekly confirmed cases meet the transition criteria for three or more days, the level will be adjusted.

Additionally, as COVID-19 vaccination intensifies from the third quarter, incentives focusing on normalizing the most restricted tourism and cultural arts sectors will be discovered and provided.

The vaccine incentive support targets include seniors aged 60 and over, those receiving leftover vaccines, and groups wishing to engage in family activities during the summer vacation season.

This pilot application of the reform plan targets 15 cities and counties with populations under 100,000 within the province, aiming to relieve fatigue caused by long-term uniform quarantine measures regardless of COVID-19 spread and to recover the depressed local economy.

However, considering the COVID-19 spread situation and quarantine risk, it was decided not to apply it to Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung.

Kim Seong-ho, Deputy Governor, said, "Ahead of the implementation of the new social distancing system in July, we decided to pilot the social distancing reform plan to alleviate residents' suffering as soon as possible."

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