Capital Region 3-Person Ban Extended for 2 More Weeks... Direct Family Limited to 4 People at Level 3

In-Person Religious Activities Allowed Up to 99 People at Level 4

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held on the morning of the 6th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy reporters Seo So-jeong and Son Seon-hee] The government will extend the current "social distancing" measures of "Level 4 in the metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas" for two more weeks until the 22nd. The government decided to apply stricter exceptions for private gatherings at Level 4, and will not recognize exceptions for private gatherings even for sports business facilities and those who have completed vaccination.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced on the 6th, "After careful consideration, we intend to extend social distancing for two more weeks." With the government's decision to extend, the highest level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area will continue for six weeks.

The government first decided not to apply exceptions to private gathering limits for those who have completed vaccination, in line with the need to strengthen quarantine rules. Accordingly, the rules temporarily applied to sports business facilities and vaccinated individuals will be regularized, and exceptions for private gatherings will not be recognized at Level 4. Regarding family gatherings, exceptions for private gatherings will not be applied from Level 3 for immediate family gatherings, and even immediate family members can only gather up to four people at Level 3.

Matchmaking meetings are allowed up to 8 people at Level 3. First birthday parties (Doljanchi) will unify the previously separated quarantine rules for specialized Doljanchi venues and other Doljanchi, allowing gatherings of up to 16 people even at Level 3. Large-scale sports events involving inter-regional movement at Level 3 will be implemented after consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

For academic events, at Level 3, they must be divided into separate spaces with less than 50 people each with separated movement paths, and at Level 4, only gatherings of fewer than 50 people are allowed without dividing attendees. Performances at non-regular performance venues are limited to one person per 6㎡ and up to 2,000 people at Level 3, and are prohibited at non-regular performance venues at Level 4.

On the other hand, hair and beauty businesses are subject to a 10 PM operating hour restriction at Level 4, but due to criticism that most close earlier and the restriction is ineffective, they are excluded from the operating hour restrictions. At Level 4, religious facilities are allowed face-to-face religious activities with up to 10 people if the capacity is 100 or less, and up to 10% of capacity if 101 or more, with a maximum of 99 people allowed.

As of midnight on the day, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases was 1,704, marking the third consecutive day in the 1,700 range.

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