One-Week Postponement of Social Distancing in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Seoul Records Highest Cases, 2030 Age Group, and Delta Variant as Variables (Comprehensive)

Jungdaebon "Respect Local Government Decisions... Private Gatherings Limited to 4 People"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The new social distancing measures scheduled to be implemented from tomorrow will be postponed by one week in the Seoul metropolitan area. With Seoul recording the highest number of COVID-19 cases this year and the growing threat of the Delta variant, authorities have decided to temporarily delay easing quarantine measures.

On the 30th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters decided to upgrade the metropolitan area to Level 3 if the situation exceeds the stage criteria, and discussed taking measures to strengthen quarantine efforts as much as possible during the implementation period by local governments.

First, after gathering opinions through autonomous district meetings in Seoul on the same day, recognizing the severity of the situation, it was decided to postpone the application of the social distancing system for one week and this decision was communicated to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

Gyeonggi Province and Incheon City also shared the situation and decided to postpone the reorganization of social distancing measures across the metropolitan area for one week.

Accordingly, the metropolitan area will maintain the current measures for one week, including allowing private gatherings of up to 4 people, prohibiting gatherings at entertainment facilities, and restricting operating hours of singing practice rooms, restaurants, and cafes until 10 PM.

Prohibition of gatherings at entertainment facilities... Restaurants and cafes to maintain current 10 PM closing time

On the 30th, as the number of new COVID-19 cases approached 800 due to the spread from Hongdae clubs, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

A representative from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said, "We agree to take a one-week grace period respecting the autonomous decisions of metropolitan local governments," adding, "We will do our utmost together with metropolitan local governments to stabilize the spread in the metropolitan area."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the same day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases was 794, the highest since April 23.

The situation in the metropolitan area is particularly serious. Seoul reported 368 new cases, the highest this year. The weekly average number of cases is 252.1, far exceeding the Level 3 social distancing upgrade criterion of 195.

The spread is intense mainly among people in their 20s and 30s who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, expressed concern, saying, "In the metropolitan area, the number of cases among people in their 20s exceeded 500 in the past week," and "This is a significant increase of over 20% compared to the previous week."

As of this date, the metropolitan area accounted for 631 cases in total: 368 in Seoul, 234 in Gyeonggi Province, and 29 in Incheon, representing 83.1% of all confirmed cases. The weekly average number of cases in the metropolitan area is also 464.9, approaching the Level 3 upgrade criterion of 500.

The spread of the Delta variant, which is more transmissible than the original virus, is also raising concerns about infections. With the Delta variant confirmed in a cluster infection at an English academy in Gyeonggi Province involving a native speaker, the number of confirmed cases is expected to increase further.

Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine said, "If various quarantine easing policies are applied all at once, vigilance may drop and the quarantine barrier could collapse at once," adding, "It is better to implement measures such as extending business hours, expanding the number of private gatherings, and allowing mask removal outdoors step by step, and consider delaying the timing of mask removal as much as possible."

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