Non-Capital Areas Allow Gatherings of 12 People... Vaccine Pass Required for Entertainment and Indoor Sports Facilities (Update)

Final Plan for Phase 1 Daily Recovery to be Implemented Next Month
117 Confirmed Cases at Changwon Hospital, Suspected Breakthrough Infections

[Asia Economy reporters Seo So-jeong and Son Seon-hee] From the 1st of next month, the first phase of the new quarantine system, ‘Step-by-step Daily Recovery (With Corona),’ will be implemented. All multi-use facilities except entertainment venues will have their operating hours lifted, allowing 24-hour operation.

Private gatherings will be allowed up to 10 people in the metropolitan area and 12 people in non-metropolitan areas regardless of vaccination status, but in restaurants and cafes where the risk of COVID-19 infection is high, only up to 4 unvaccinated individuals can attend. The vaccine pass system (proof of vaccination or negative test) will be fully applied to high-risk facilities such as entertainment venues and indoor sports facilities.

On the 29th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced the final plan for daily recovery based on the contents of the 3rd meeting of the COVID-19 Daily Recovery Support Committee held on the 27th.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at Ulsan City Hall that morning, "The vaccine pass is an inevitable choice to reduce the risk of cluster infections that inevitably increase as the number of users rises due to the easing of quarantine measures," adding, "We will prepare to implement it smoothly on-site by providing a 1-2 week grace period depending on the facility."

Unlike the draft announced on the 25th, the final plan expanded the number of private gatherings allowed in non-metropolitan areas. Previously, both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas allowed up to 10 people, but since the COVID-19 outbreak continues mainly in the metropolitan area, the allowed number in non-metropolitan areas, where the scale of infection is relatively smaller, was increased.

The scope of unvaccinated persons allowed in private gatherings was also finalized. Up to 10 people in the metropolitan area and 12 in non-metropolitan areas are allowed, but in restaurants and cafes where eating and conversation are frequent, only up to 4 unvaccinated individuals can attend. Entertainment venues, which had been closed, will have a midnight (12 AM) operating hour restriction in phase 1, and the time restriction will be lifted after the phase 2 reorganization.

Meanwhile, 2,124 new COVID-19 cases were reported on the day, marking the second consecutive day with over 2,100 cases. Notably, 117 COVID-19 cases occurred in bulk over two days in a psychiatric ward of a hospital in Changwon, Gyeongnam. Among the 117 cases, 110 were patients and 7 were staff members, all of whom had completed their second vaccine dose around May to June, suggesting breakthrough infections.

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