"Serious Infection Is Obvious" vs "Where Will They Drink?" Citizens Debate Strengthened Metropolitan Area Quarantine Measures

Daily Average of 546 New COVID-19 Cases in the Capital Area
Already Within Range for Raising Social Distancing to Level 3
Strengthened Measures Including Mask Wearing and Ban on Drinking in Parks After 10 PM
"We Must Suppress the Outbreak" vs "Balloon Effect May Occur" - Mixed Opinions Among Citizens

Citizens gathered at Seoul Hangang Park enjoying drinks after dusk last May. / Photo by Juhyung Lim skepped@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the spread of COVID-19 continues unabated recently, plans to strengthen quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area are underway, sparking divided opinions among citizens. While some argue that the measures are inevitable due to the serious infections including the detection of the Delta variant, others counter that excessively strict social distancing could lead to unexpected "balloon effects."

The government announced on the 4th that it had finalized the "Strengthening Quarantine Measures in the Seoul Metropolitan Area" plan at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting.

Accordingly, wearing masks indoors and outdoors will be mandatory in the metropolitan area, and drinking alcohol outdoors in parks or riversides will be prohibited.

Additionally, until the COVID-19 outbreak stabilizes, the government plans to inspect quarantine compliance at seven high-risk multi-use facilities in the metropolitan area, including academies and private institutes, indoor sports facilities, religious facilities, singing rooms, bathhouses, entertainment venues, and restaurants/cafes. Strict measures such as exclusion from living support funds and fines will be imposed on individuals or businesses violating quarantine rules.

Regarding this, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, explained at a briefing that "regardless of whether a 2-meter distance is maintained, we recommend wearing masks outdoors," adding, "If violations are frequent, we plan to change the administrative order itself, enforce it, and apply penalties."

Son Young-rae, Head of Strategic Planning at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare), is briefing on the results of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 4th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, the government had planned to implement a new social distancing system nationwide from the 1st, easing some rules, and apply Level 2 distancing in the metropolitan area. A "vaccine incentive" was also scheduled to relax the outdoor mask mandate for those who had received at least one vaccine dose.

However, as confirmed cases surged mainly in the metropolitan area, the implementation of distancing measures was postponed by one week.

The average daily new confirmed cases in the metropolitan area over the past week is 546, already within the Level 3 (500 or more) range under the new distancing criteria.

The Delta variant, known to be more infectious than the original virus, is spreading rapidly. According to the CDSCH, the first Delta variant infection was confirmed on April 22 from an overseas entrant, and its proportion among major variants surged from 7.3% on the 7th of the same month to 18.2% last month.

Citizens are enjoying a holiday outing at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Amid this situation, opinions among metropolitan area citizens on the new strengthened quarantine measures were divided. While some advocate for stricter quarantine given the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic risk, others questioned the effectiveness.

A in their 20s living in the metropolitan area said, "Even in advanced countries with much higher vaccination rates than ours, confirmed cases are surging again due to the Delta variant. Since our vaccination rate is low, I think we need to be more cautious," adding, "It's better to strengthen quarantine now to suppress the spread than to face irreversible consequences later."

On the other hand, B (29), an office worker, said, "Just a week ago, they said social distancing would be eased, but now they say they will crack down even in parks where it was previously allowed. Isn't that too much?" He argued, "People are already fatigued from social distancing, and if quarantine measures are too strict, resistance will only grow."

Concerns about a "balloon effect" were also raised. Another office worker in their 30s, C, pointed out, "Originally, bars closed at 10 p.m., so people started gathering in parks. If parks are closed now, people will have nowhere to go. I think they might crowd into more densely packed places."

Meanwhile, the government plans to observe the situation for a week starting from the 5th and decide on future adjustments to social distancing. Son said on the 4th, "We are continuing discussions with local governments in the metropolitan area," adding, "We expect to finalize and announce the new social distancing system at the CDSCH meeting scheduled for the 7th after monitoring the situation early this week."

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