Review of Lifting Operating Hour Restrictions on Restaurants, Cafes, and Other Livelihood Facilities Starting Next Month 1 (Update)

High-Risk Facilities Temporarily Implement Vaccination Proof and Negative Test Verification System

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government announced that if the current COVID-19 outbreak situation progresses as expected, 'gradual recovery to daily life (With Corona)' will be possible from November 1. The government is primarily considering lifting operating hour restrictions on livelihood facilities such as restaurants and cafes.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st Controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the regular COVID-19 briefing on the 22nd, "If the current situation develops well and there is no major deviation from the overall direction, it seems possible to lift operating hour restrictions (for restaurants and cafes) from November 1. However, if confirmed cases surge rapidly and the quarantine situation becomes critical, it may take some more time."

He explained, "At the 2nd meeting of the COVID-19 Daily Recovery Support Committee held today, we focused on discussing the gradual recovery to daily life to be applied from November," adding, "First, the quarantine and medical subcommittee reported on the plan to reorganize social distancing for gradual recovery to daily life."

He emphasized, "The reorganization of social distancing proposes a phased relaxation by comprehensively considering the vaccination rate, medical system capacity, the ratio of severe patients and deaths, and the number of confirmed cases. During this process, basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks will be maintained, and a separate emergency plan will be prepared to respond to crisis situations such as a sudden increase in weekly severe cases and deaths."

The government is reviewing lifting operating hour restrictions on livelihood facilities as the first step of gradual recovery to daily life.

Lee said, "In the first reorganization in early November, we will primarily consider lifting operating hour restrictions on livelihood facilities such as restaurants and cafes," and mentioned, "For some high-risk facilities such as entertainment venues, a temporary introduction of vaccination proof and negative test confirmation system was also proposed to block infections."

He added, "The quarantine and medical response and social distancing reorganization directions discussed in this quarantine and medical subcommittee will be presented to the public at a public hearing on the 25th to gather public opinions," and "On the 27th, the 3rd Daily Recovery Support Committee will hold a comprehensive discussion, and on the 29th, the COVID-19 Daily Recovery Implementation Plan will be prepared and announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters."

He continued, "It is expected that the vaccination completion rate will exceed 70% of the entire population by this weekend," and urged, "I repeatedly ask the public to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks so that quarantine can be stably managed during the transition to recovery of daily life."

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