From the 21st, Private Gatherings Increase from 6 to 8 People for Two Weeks... Government Says "Full Lift is Risky, Gradual Easing"

Government: "Evaluation Should Focus on Severe Cases and Deaths Rather Than Number of Confirmed Cases"
Peak Expected in Next 2 Weeks... Additional Easing Considered Once Peak Declines

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] From the 21st of this month to the 3rd of next month, the limit on the number of people allowed in private gatherings will be expanded from the current 6 to 8. The operating hours restrictions for multi-use facilities such as restaurants will remain unchanged, until 11 PM.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 18th the adjustment plan for social distancing with these details. Accordingly, private gatherings will be allowed up to 8 people regardless of region or vaccination status. However, exceptions apply for cohabiting family members or cases requiring care such as children, elderly, and disabled individuals.

Operating hours are limited to 11 PM for all facilities classified into Groups 1, 2, and 3 based on infection risk, as well as other facilities. Group 1 includes entertainment establishments such as nightclubs, karaoke bars, clubs (night), emotional pubs, hunting pubs, colatec, and dance halls. Group 2 includes four types: restaurants and cafes, karaoke rooms, bathhouses, and indoor sports facilities. Group 3 and other facilities include lifelong vocational education academies, PC rooms, arcades, multi-rooms, casinos, party rooms, massage and therapy centers, movie theaters, and performance halls. The 11 PM restriction applies only to lifelong vocational education academies among academies. Movie theaters and performance halls are allowed until 11 PM based on the start time of screenings or performances.

Measures related to events, assemblies, and religious facilities will also be maintained. Events and assemblies can be held with up to 299 people regardless of vaccination status. Non-regular performances, sports competitions, festivals, and other events with 300 or more attendees require approval from relevant ministries. Regular religious activities such as Mass, Buddhist ceremonies, and worship services can be held at up to 70% of the venue capacity regardless of vaccination status. Religious events can be held with up to 299 people according to the standards for gatherings and events.

The government stated that it is difficult to consider additional easing measures other than the relaxation of the private gathering limit. Lee Ki-il, the first controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at a regular briefing that "It is predicted that the outbreak will peak within the next two weeks, so it is practically difficult to make (additional) adjustments before then," adding, "If the peak clearly declines and the medical system is stably managed, we will comprehensively review (additional easing measures)."

Regarding the impact of this social distancing adjustment plan on the scale or timing of the outbreak peak, the government maintained the existing forecast, stating, "According to expert predictions, the peak is expected to occur between the 12th and the 22nd, and a gradual decline is expected after the 23rd." They added, "As of yesterday (the 17th), 620,000 confirmed cases were reported, and we hope this number represents the peak."

The government emphasizes that more weight should be placed on how much the number of severe cases and deaths can be reduced during the process of returning to normal life rather than the scale of confirmed cases. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, said, "Rather than measuring quarantine success by the number of confirmed cases as during the Delta variant or previous non-variant COVID-19 outbreaks, it is important to evaluate how much death and severe cases can be minimized while transitioning to normal life."

Son also explained, "If the goal is to minimize confirmed cases, then quarantine measures such as isolation periods for confirmed cases, measures for overseas entrants, and social distancing must be strictly strengthened and maintained. However, there has been a fundamental question about how long society can be maintained this way, and accordingly, there is a global movement toward returning to normal life."

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