"Is It Okay to Be This Inconsistent?" Reinforced Metropolitan Area Quarantine Measures Again... Citizens 'Confused'

Health Authorities Decide to Strengthen Metropolitan Area Quarantine Measures
Outdoor No-Mask Vaccine Incentives Reversed Within Days
"Inconsistent," "Suddenly Changing Guidelines," Citizens Frustrated

Citizens enjoying leisure time at Seoul Hangang Park. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "It's confusing because the guidelines suddenly changed.", "Is it okay for quarantine policies to be so inconsistent?"

As COVID-19 spreads severely, especially in the metropolitan area, quarantine measures are being strengthened, causing some citizens to express frustration. Previously, the government announced plans to ease social distancing guidelines, but reversed this decision within a few days, which critics say only increased confusion on the ground. Experts advise managing quarantine from a long-term perspective rather than short-term grace periods.

On the 4th, the government finalized the 'Strengthening Quarantine Measures in the Metropolitan Area' at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting. According to this plan, mask-wearing indoors and outdoors will be mandatory in the metropolitan area regardless of vaccination status, and drinking alcohol outdoors in parks or riversides will be prohibited.

Quarantine inspections will also be conducted for seven high-risk multi-use facilities in the metropolitan area, including academies and private tutoring centers, indoor sports facilities, bathhouses, religious facilities, restaurants and cafes, and entertainment venues.

Upon learning of these facts, citizens voiced dissatisfaction, pointing out the confusion caused by the sudden strengthening of quarantine measures.

Mr. Park, in his 50s, who recently received his first vaccine dose, said, "I was confused about whether to wear a mask when going hiking on the weekend. The reactions of vaccinated people around me were the same," adding, "Eventually, a new guideline came down saying not to wear masks. If it's going to be so inconsistent, it would have been better not to have incentives from the start."

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

A 20-something office worker living in Seoul, Mr. A, said, "Just a few days ago, they said social distancing would be eased, but now suddenly they say drinking in parks after 10 p.m. will be banned," adding, "Isn't this completely the opposite of what we heard in the news? It's confusing to know how to act."

Among self-employed people, there were also voices mixed with dissatisfaction. Mr. B, in his 30s, working at a restaurant in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, said, "I heard from the 1st that quarantine guidelines would be eased, but just before opening, the decision was postponed and now it’s as if it never happened," adding, "All the preparations like ordering ingredients were wasted. Who compensates for this?"

Previously, the government planned to implement a 'new distancing' policy from the 1st, allowing private gatherings of up to six people in the metropolitan area and extending business hours until midnight. They also planned to promote vaccine incentives by easing outdoor mask-wearing requirements for those who had received at least one vaccine dose.

However, as daily confirmed cases surged mainly in the metropolitan area, the government announced on the 30th of last month, one day before the new distancing was to be implemented, that the current distancing would be extended by one week. At that time, vaccine incentives were to be maintained, but even that was reversed in the metropolitan area just four days after implementation.

In May, as the sun was setting, crowds gathered at Yeouido Hangang Park. / Photo by Juhyung Lim skepped@

The reason the government suddenly strengthened quarantine measures is that COVID-19 infections are rapidly increasing in the metropolitan area. The recent seven-day average of daily new confirmed cases in the metropolitan area is 546, which already falls within the range for raising the level to Stage 3 (500 or more) under the new distancing criteria.

The Delta variant, known to be more infectious than the existing virus, is also a problem. According to the CDSCH, the proportion of the Delta variant among major variants in Korea surged from 7.3% in April to 18.2% last month.

Experts suggest that since threats to the quarantine network such as the Delta variant have increased, it is necessary to prepare quarantine guidelines with vigilance over a long period.

Professor Lee Jaegab of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital appeared on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Boseon's Starting Morning' recently and said, "The Delta variant originating from a native English teacher has been confirmed, and this week the number of confirmed cases due to the Delta variant doubled compared to the previous week," adding, "Once it starts spreading in the community, it will be uncontrollable. We must be vigilant and prepare."

He continued, "It takes at least one to two weeks for the situation to stabilize again after cases increase. It is difficult to end with just a grace period," adding, "Experts expect that under the condition that quarantine is strengthened and citizens actively participate, it will take two to three weeks for the situation to stabilize."

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