Jeonnam Province to Implement Level 1 of Social Distancing Reform Starting Next Month 1st

Granting Autonomy to Si-Gun Based on Self-Responsibility... Private Gatherings Allowed Up to 8 People

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A new social distancing reform plan based on autonomy and responsibility, Phase 1, will be implemented to expedite the recovery of daily life.

Jeonnam Province announced on the 28th that Phase 1 of the social distancing reform plan, which has been piloted since May, will be implemented from the 1st to the 14th of next month.

However, as the nationwide implementation of this reform plan significantly relaxes quarantine rules, it will be promoted step-by-step after a two-week adaptation period to prepare for a decrease in quarantine vigilance.

Accordingly, the province will extend the piloted Phase 1 reform plan for two weeks, but some regions will apply it differently according to the discretion of local government heads.

In 18 cities and counties including Mokpo and Yeosu, the number of private gatherings currently allowed up to 8 people will be expanded to include five types of entertainment facilities, colatecs, dance halls, and holdem pubs.

Four counties including Gokseong, Goheung, Haenam, and Sinan are reviewing whether to lift restrictions on the number of private gatherings.

The five types of entertainment facilities, colatecs, dance halls, and holdem pubs will have their operating hour restrictions lifted, and social distancing will be strengthened to one person per 6 square meters of facility area.

However, clubs and nightclubs will allow one person per 8 square meters. Sports and spectator venues will allow up to 50% indoor capacity and 70% outdoor capacity.

Those who have completed the second dose of vaccination will be exempt from restrictions on the number of private gatherings. They can freely use social welfare facilities such as senior centers and welfare centers, as well as participate in programs.

Regular proactive testing for workers in vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals will also be exempted, and face-to-face (contact) visits will be allowed if either the visitor or the resident has completed vaccination.

Entrance fees and usage fees for major public facilities such as national parks and national ecological parks will be discounted or waived, and cultural experience events will be possible.

Those who have received the first and second doses of vaccination will be excluded from the participant count when attending face-to-face religious activities such as regular worship, mass, Buddhist ceremonies, and memorial services. Choirs and small group activities composed only of vaccinated individuals will also be allowed.

Vaccinated individuals (including those two weeks after the first dose) will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors, allowing outdoor activities without masks.

However, this excludes gatherings and events where many people assemble, even outdoors.

In the case of beaches, mask-wearing is recommended considering that many unvaccinated family tourists gather there.

To ensure the effectiveness of quarantine, those who test positive after violating quarantine rules will be excluded from receiving living support funds, and if a group infection occurs due to violation of quarantine rules, compensation claims may be filed. Additionally, gatherings will be banned for two weeks separately from fines.

Kang Young-gu, Director of Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, "With the implementation of the social distancing reform plan, the tension in quarantine may loosen due to increased private gatherings, contacts, and movement, so thorough participation by residents is more important than ever," and added, "Please make basic quarantine rules such as refraining from meetings and outings and wearing masks a part of daily life, and actively participate in social distancing based on autonomy and responsibility."

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