Self-Employed "When Will Social Distancing End?" Europe Eases Restrictions Despite High COVID-19 Cases

'6-person gatherings and 9 PM business hours' social distancing extended for 2 weeks
Europe lifts quarantine amid Omicron spread
Self-employed say "Even with distancing, 20,000 cases... frustrated"'

A QR code scanner device for electronic entry log registration is installed at the entrance of a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Another extension of social distancing? We can't even run our businesses properly, and it's so hard to make a living."

As the government announced on the 4th that the current social distancing measures of '6 people and 9 PM' will be extended for two more weeks, the sighs of self-employed business owners are growing deeper. They are raising their voices, saying, "The government is forcing unilateral sacrifices on the self-employed," and are urging for the easing of social distancing. Especially as movements to lift quarantine restrictions are emerging mainly in European countries, these demands from the self-employed are becoming stronger.

Recently, the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea has been breaking records daily due to the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. According to the quarantine authorities and local governments, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 26,000 as of 9 PM on the 5th.

This is the largest number ever recorded, increasing by 523 from the previous record of 26,273 cases on the 4th. The number of new cases first exceeded 10,000 on the 26th of last month (13,009 cases). Then, within a week, it rose to over 20,000 on the 2nd of this month (20,269 cases). Since then, the daily record has been broken continuously, maintaining over 20,000 cases for three consecutive days.

Given this situation, the government decided to extend the current social distancing measures, originally scheduled to end on the 6th, for another two weeks until the 20th.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting at the Government Seoul Office that morning, "As the Lunar New Year holiday passed, the spread of the Omicron variant is rapidly increasing," and added, "Although there were opinions to partially ease social distancing, after careful consideration, we decided to extend the current measures for two weeks." Accordingly, private gatherings are limited to a maximum of six people, and operating hours for multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes are restricted until 9 PM until the 20th.

However, self-employed business owners are showing signs of fatigue from the continued social distancing. In particular, they point out that the government's strengthened distancing measures have little effect on quarantine and are calling for easing restrictions.

On the self-employed online community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' ("Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss"), netizens expressed critical opinions such as, "Why do social distancing when there are 20,000 confirmed cases anyway? It seems like they want to make poor people even poorer," "It's ironic that private gathering restrictions remain the same even though cases have increased several times compared to last month," and "If extending social distancing leads to more cases, not fewer, it's frustrating."

A closed store in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, has a rental information banner posted. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Some self-employed individuals mentioned European countries that are lifting or easing quarantine restrictions and pointed out that South Korea should also ease its restrictions.

One netizen said, "Sweden is also lifting all COVID restrictions. Although the number of infections remains high, the decision is based on the fact that the health situation is stable due to the spread of Omicron. On the other hand, South Korea is strengthening quarantine measures further, and I don't know when this will end."

Recently, movements to ease quarantine restrictions have been emerging mainly in European countries. Countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Finland, and France have lifted or eased many quarantine restrictions.

Although the number of confirmed cases is increasing due to the spread of the Omicron variant, the number of hospitalized patients has not changed significantly, leading more countries to choose coexistence with COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the government stated that even if confirmed cases increase in the future, if the severe cases and fatality rates remain stable and the medical system has sufficient capacity, it will promote easing quarantine measures and phased daily recovery (With COVID). However, it also stated that if a crisis arises in the quarantine situation, it may consider strengthening measures again.

Lee Ki-il, the first controller of the CDSCH, said at an online briefing that day, "Even if confirmed cases increase, if severe cases and fatality rates remain stable and the medical system has sufficient capacity, we have decided to gradually lift quarantine regulations and attempt daily recovery again."

He added, "However, if a crisis such as medical system collapse or a sharp increase in deaths is expected, we will consider additional quarantine strengthening measures such as restrictions on private gatherings and operating hours."

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