Gangneung City, First Non-Capital Area to Raise to Level 4... Blocking 'Balloon Effect and Delta Variant' Spread

Operation Restrictions After 8 PM Strengthened from the 19th for Restaurants and Cafes Compared to the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Ban on Nighttime Eating at Beaches and Mandatory Mask Wearing [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gangneung City in Gangwon Province will raise social distancing to Level 4, the first among non-metropolitan local governments, due to the balloon effect from the Seoul metropolitan area and the spread of the Delta variant in the region.

Gangneung City announced on the 18th that "social distancing will be urgently adjusted to Level 4 from the 19th to the 25th."

Accordingly, private gatherings across Gangneung will be limited to two people after 6 p.m., and entertainment facilities will be ordered to close.

In particular, restaurants and cafes will face stricter operating restrictions than the metropolitan area, which limits operations until 10 p.m., by restricting operations after 8 p.m. Beaches will operate as scheduled until the end of August but will prohibit entry after 8 p.m.

This measure comes as COVID-19 spreads with young people moving to pubs and PC rooms, and the Delta variant was recently confirmed in Gangneung.

Since the 12th of this month, 92 people have tested positive in Gangneung, of which 44 (48.8%) are in their 20s.

The city will also operate a temporary screening clinic at the Yucheon Residential Area KBS parking lot from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting on the 19th.

Kim Han-geun, Mayor of Gangneung, said, "We are facing the most serious crisis due to the balloon effect from the metropolitan area and the spread of the Delta variant," and urged, "Please refrain from social activities as much as possible."

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