Sejong-si Takes First Step Toward Gradual 'Daily Recovery' Starting Next Month 1st

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City will begin a three-step ‘return to normal life’ starting at midnight on the 1st of next month.

According to the city on the 30th, the return to normal life will proceed in the order of easing restrictions on business operations (Step 1), allowing large-scale events (Step 2), and lifting restrictions on private gatherings (Step 3).

Each step will be raised at intervals of 4 weeks (system transition operation) + 2 weeks (evaluation) starting from the 1st of next month. Whether to move to the next step will be decided by comprehensively reviewing the vaccination completion rate, medical system capacity, the status of severe cases and deaths, and the scale of the outbreak.

Adjustments by step will be finally decided by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. If the medical system burden increases, the transition to normal life may be suspended and an emergency plan for stabilizing the outbreak may be implemented.

First, from the 1st of next month, entertainment facilities, colatecs and dance halls, restaurants and cafes, and coin karaoke rooms, which were previously subject to operating hour restrictions due to social distancing, will be freed from time restrictions.

Also, private gatherings will maintain appropriate restrictions considering the demand for year-end and New Year gatherings before being lifted. From the 1st, private gatherings of up to 12 people will be allowed regardless of vaccination status.

However, in restaurants and cafes, unvaccinated individuals will be limited to a maximum of 4 people, and some high-risk multi-use facilities such as entertainment facilities, colatecs and dance halls, coin karaoke rooms, indoor sports facilities, bathhouses, horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, and casinos will apply vaccination proof and negative test confirmation systems.

Large-scale events and assemblies will also be allowed mainly for those who have completed vaccination. From the 1st, all events and assemblies will be allowed for fewer than 100 people regardless of vaccination status, and if composed only of vaccinated individuals, up to fewer than 500 people will be allowed.

Medical institutions, nursing hospitals and facilities, senior centers, welfare centers for the elderly, cultural centers, and facilities for people with severe disabilities and dementia will strengthen protection by allowing access only to those who have completed vaccination. In religious facilities, if unvaccinated individuals are included, regular religious activities such as worship and Buddhist ceremonies will be allowed up to 50% capacity. Conversely, if only vaccinated individuals attend, the capacity limit will be lifted.

Lee Chun-hee, Mayor of Sejong City, said, “So far, COVID-19 has been relatively well managed in Sejong thanks to the active cooperation of citizens,” and added, “The city will continue to ensure that the phased return to normal life proceeds more safely so that all citizens can return to a happy daily life.”

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