Daejeon Extends Social Distancing Level 4 for 2 Weeks... Karaoke Rooms Added to Prohibited Gathering Businesses

Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong is holding a briefing on COVID-19 response. Photo by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Daejeon City will extend the Level 4 social distancing period by two weeks.

On the 6th, the city announced that Level 4 social distancing will be maintained until the 22nd of this month. In particular, during this period, singing rooms (noraebang) will also be included among the facilities where gatherings are prohibited. Businesses subject to closure include singing rooms, entertainment and danranjumeok (karaoke bars), colateks, and holdem pubs, which are considered high-risk facilities.

Under the Level 4 social distancing, private gatherings are limited to four people in principle, and from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, the limit is two people. Additionally, all event venues are prohibited from hosting gatherings, and protests are allowed only for one person.

However, wedding halls and funeral homes may host gatherings of up to 49 people, and religious facilities may allow attendance up to 10% of their total capacity, with a maximum of 99 people.

Sports games will be held without spectators, and outdoor drinking in parks, riversides, and other outdoor areas will be prohibited after 10 p.m.

The city is concerned about the increase in vacationers this month and the nationwide rise in movement around the August 15 Liberation Day holiday.

Accordingly, the city plans to form a special joint inspection team of about 2,000 public officials from the city, autonomous districts, police agency, and education office to continuously enforce regulations.

Separately, to address the shortage of hospital beds due to the increase in confirmed cases, the city plans to accelerate the expansion of living treatment centers and other facilities.

Currently, the local military hospital has been designated as an infectious disease-dedicated hospital and is operating 171 beds. In addition, starting from the 9th, 30 more beds will be added at the Veterans Hospital, securing and operating a total of 201 beds, according to the city’s explanation.

Furthermore, the city will secure one additional living treatment center within this month and will install and operate a temporary screening clinic at the City Hall South Gate Plaza starting from the 9th to enable rapid COVID-19 diagnostic testing. This is intended to alleviate the inconvenience of citizens who have to wait for long hours in the heat before receiving diagnostic tests.

Mayor Heo Tae-jung of Daejeon said, “If we do not stop our activities now, we cannot stop COVID-19,” and added, “I sincerely hope that all citizens can unite to overcome the current critical moment we are facing.”

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