One Day Before With Corona... 2,061 New Cases, Spread Continues (Comprehensive)

Temporary COVID-19 Screening Clinic
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] On the 31st, a day before the implementation of With Corona (gradual return to normal life), the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea remained in the 2,000 range.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on that day, 2,061 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 364,700.

Compared to 2,104 cases the previous day, it is 43 fewer, but the number has remained in the 2,000 range for four consecutive days since the 28th.

It is the first time in four weeks since the 3rd (2,085 cases) that the number exceeded 2,000 on a Saturday (Sunday by announcement date).

Usually, the number of tests decreases on weekends, leading to fewer confirmed cases, but due to the ongoing spread, the decrease compared to weekdays was minimal.

Of the new confirmed cases, 2,052 were locally transmitted and 9 were imported from overseas.

By region, the number of new domestic cases was 756 in Seoul, 700 in Gyeonggi, and 157 in Incheon, with the metropolitan area accounting for 1,613 cases (78.6%).

Non-metropolitan areas reported 439 cases (21.4%), including 62 in Chungnam, 61 in Gyeongnam, 58 in Busan, 57 in Daegu, 56 in Gyeongbuk, 30 in Jeonnam, 27 in Chungbuk, 23 each in Gwangju and Gangwon, 21 in Jeonbuk, 11 in Daejeon, 5 in Ulsan, 4 in Sejong, and 1 in Jeju.

Government to Implement With Corona Phase 1 from Tomorrow, No Operating Hour Restrictions for Restaurants and Cafes

Meanwhile, the government will implement With Corona Phase 1 starting at 5 a.m. on the 1st of next month.

With the start of Phase 1, operating hour restrictions for livelihood facilities will be lifted. Most multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes will be able to operate 24 hours. However, high-risk infection facilities such as entertainment venues, colatecs, and dance halls will still have a midnight operating hour restriction.

Private gatherings will be allowed up to 10 people in the metropolitan area and up to 12 people in non-metropolitan areas, regardless of vaccination status. However, in gatherings at restaurants and cafes, only up to 4 unvaccinated people can join. This measure takes into account that these are spaces where people remove masks and converse.

The quarantine pass will also be enforced. To enter approximately 130,000 high-risk facilities such as singing rooms, bathhouses, indoor sports facilities like gyms, entertainment venues, and horse racing, bicycle racing, and casinos, or to visit patients and residents at vulnerable facilities such as medical institutions, nursing homes, facilities for the severely disabled, and dementia care centers, one must show proof of vaccination completion or a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result.

However, those under 18, COVID-19 recovered patients, and people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are exempt from the quarantine pass and will not face restrictions on facility entry without proof.

The number of participants allowed at events and gatherings will also increase in Phase 1. Including unvaccinated individuals, up to 99 people can gather, and if only vaccinated or negative-tested individuals participate, up to 499 people can gather.

However, for events such as weddings, exhibitions, fairs, and international conferences, which could previously be held with more than 100 people including unvaccinated individuals, the existing capacity limits will continue to apply.

Movie theaters and outdoor sports stadiums may designate “vaccinated-only zones,” where eating and drinking will be permitted only within those zones.

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