Prime Minister Kim: "Special Quarantine Measures in the Capital Region from Early July... Mask Mandate Reinstated if Situation Worsens"

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung (above) is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, on June 29, 2021. Photo by Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 29th, two days before the new social distancing measures take effect, "Although there is a two-week transition period, the risk of infection spreading will inevitably increase once the social distancing system is reorganized from July," adding, "I hope that with a sense of crisis and responsibility, special quarantine measures will be actively implemented from early July."

On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Kim presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office, stating, "The metropolitan area is the most critical battleground for quarantine with no room to retreat." At the meeting, which was attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun, and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the 'Special Quarantine Measures for the Metropolitan Area' were discussed.

Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "Even countries with the fastest vaccination rates and exemplary quarantine measures in the world must tighten quarantine controls again due to momentary negligence and variant viruses," and added, "Although autonomy will be expanded with the reorganization of social distancing, if responsibility does not follow, the resurgence of COVID-19 will not be an exception for us either."

He also said, "From July, those who have received at least one vaccination dose may remove their masks in quiet outdoor areas, but please always keep in mind that if the situation worsens due to variant viruses, mask-wearing may be re-mandated at any time," and requested, "Until herd immunity is formed through sufficient vaccination, please adhere to basic quarantine rules and once again unite the power of the people to restore daily life."

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