Prime Minister Kim: "Maintain Current Social Distancing for 2 More Weeks... Private Gathering Limits Remain Unchanged" (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Sunhee] The government has decided to extend the current social distancing measures, which apply Level 4 in the Seoul metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas, for two more weeks. Restrictions on the number of private gatherings will also remain unchanged. The distancing plan announced on this day will be in effect for two weeks starting from the 4th.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the morning of the 1st at the Government Seoul Office and announced, "Considering the intensified spread of COVID-19 after Chuseok and the two consecutive holidays starting this weekend, which pose risks to quarantine," he made this announcement. He added, "We fully understand the hardships faced by small business owners and self-employed people who have suffered greatly due to prolonged quarantine measures, but we judged that the quarantine situation is severe enough that it is not yet time to ease restrictions comprehensively."

However, the government decided to partially adjust quarantine standards for events such as weddings, first birthday parties (doljanchi), and outdoor sports facilities, focusing on those who have completed vaccination. Detailed information will be announced soon by the quarantine authorities.

Regarding the COVID-19 vaccination rate, Prime Minister Kim stated, "As of yesterday, more than 50% of the total population have completed their second dose of the vaccine," adding, "This corresponds to 58.2% of the population aged 18 and over."

He also said, "Public expectations for the recovery of daily life are growing," and "In response, we will actively prepare for the full-scale recovery of daily life this month when the vaccination completion rate exceeds 70%."

Prime Minister Kim said, "Measures to ease quarantine for the recovery of daily life will be implemented gradually," and "We will carefully manage the quarantine situation while progressively relaxing restrictions on gathering sizes and business hours, as well as reforming the medical system step by step."

He added, "To minimize trial and error during the recovery process, we will promote an orderly transition," and "We will strengthen on-site inspections and crackdowns to prevent complacency regarding quarantine, and carefully consider to ensure that no citizens are discriminated against or marginalized during the revision of quarantine standards."

Finally, Prime Minister Kim said, "We will promptly establish the public-private 'COVID-19 Daily Life Recovery Support Committee,'" and "Centered on this committee, we will widely listen to voices from all sectors and create and actively implement a daily life recovery roadmap that guarantees execution across quarantine, as well as our economy and society as a whole."

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