Most Non-Capital Regions Raised to 'Social Distancing Level 2'... Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk Ban Gatherings of 5 or More

On the 14th, when the highest record was broken with 1,615 new COVID-19 cases, citizens who visited the screening clinic set up at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center in Seoul were waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the daily new COVID-19 cases reached 1,615, signaling an uncontrollable spread of the '4th wave,' health authorities have decided to raise social distancing measures in non-metropolitan areas as well.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st Controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, announced at the regular briefing on the 14th, "(Starting from the 15th) Busan, Ulsan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon metropolitan cities, and Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongnam provinces, and Jeju Island will be subject to the new Level 2 social distancing measures." This means that all non-metropolitan areas except Sejong, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongbuk will be elevated to Level 2.

The increase appears to be due to the number of locally transmitted cases in non-metropolitan areas doubling from 178 as of midnight on the 7th to 388 on this day. Correspondingly, the proportion of non-metropolitan cases among local transmissions rose from 15.2% on the 7th to 24.8% on the 14th. Although it had risen to 27.6% the previous day, the proportion slightly decreased again as metropolitan area cases exceeded 1,000.

Currently, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Gangwon are under Level 1 social distancing, but from the 15th, they will be elevated to Level 2. Chungbuk was preemptively raised to Level 2 from the 14th, and Chungnam, Daejeon, Busan, and Jeju are already under Level 2.

Notably, Jeju's weekly average cases as of this day reached 18.3, surpassing the Level 3 elevation threshold of 13 for four consecutive days. Health authorities explained that Jeju is considering raising to Level 3 and announcing special quarantine measures within this week.

However, authorities decided to maintain the current Level 1 social distancing in Sejong, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongbuk, as the spread is not yet significant. Except for Sejong, these areas currently report about half the number of cases required for Level 2 elevation.

Photo by Moon Nam

Some local governments apply additional quarantine measures beyond the designated social distancing levels, considering their regional situations.

Regarding private gatherings, Sejong (Level 1), Daejeon and Chungbuk (Level 2) allow up to 4 people; Ulsan and Jeju (Level 2) allow up to 6 people; Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam (Level 1) allow up to 8 people. Under the current social distancing guidelines, Level 1 has no limit on private gathering sizes, while Level 2 allows up to 8 people.

Additionally, Daejeon, Sejong, Gwangju, Busan, and Gyeongnam have suspended incentives such as exemptions from private gathering limits for fully vaccinated individuals. Also, Daejeon and Ulsan restrict the operating hours of entertainment facilities until 11 PM, which is one hour earlier than the 12 AM limit under Level 2 social distancing.

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