Transition Team "New Social Distancing Plan with 'Crowding and Enclosure Standards' to Be Prepared in August"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Transition Committee announced on the 4th that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration will establish a new social distancing application system by August. It is expected that the main content will involve changing the existing distancing system, which was categorized by industry, to one that considers factors such as crowding, close contact, and ventilation.

In the 'COVID-19 100-Day Roadmap Implementation Plan by Task' released on the 4th, the Presidential Transition Committee announced a detailed schedule for reestablishing a scientifically based daily quarantine system.

According to the implementation plan announced by the Transition Committee on the day, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration plans to set up an expert committee for scientific distancing response by next month and prioritize quarantine measures with high public acceptance based on surveys of public perception regarding the effectiveness and necessity of distancing and quarantine measures.

Measures such as business hour restrictions and quarantine passes were first attempted during the COVID-19 situation, but due to insufficient analysis of their epidemic suppression effects and socio-economic impacts, there is a need to reorganize distancing and daily quarantine rules, which greatly affect the public’s daily life and socio-economic activities, based on scientific evidence.

In August, a draft for revising the distancing application system and guidelines will be prepared, and in October, a pre-analysis will be conducted to prepare a manual for adjusting distancing measures in anticipation of the winter resurgence.

In October, a pre-analysis will be conducted to prepare for the winter resurgence, and a pre-manual for adjusting distancing measures will also be prepared. On the 27th of last month, Ahn Cheol-soo, the head of the Transition Committee, stated during the roadmap announcement that the method of issuing business-specific gathering bans will not be maintained, saying, "Scientific quarantine will be based on criteria of crowding, close contact, and ventilation."

The new government is also considering declaring an outdoor mask-free (FREE) policy within this month. Although the outdoor mask-wearing mandate was already adjusted starting from the 2nd, masks must still be worn at gatherings of 50 or more people, audiences of 50 or more, and at performances and sports events.

The new government is expected to lift all outdoor mask mandates, including those for performances and sports events, while considering strengthening on-site enforcement of indoor mask-wearing obligations.

Regarding responses to emerging infectious diseases, a full revision of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act will be pursued and submitted to the National Assembly before December next year. Amendments to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and the National Finance Act to establish an infectious disease crisis fund are planned for preparation by August.

The fund’s resources will come from government contributions and fines and penalties for violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and within the range of major expenditure items, the fund management entity will be allowed to independently change detailed items.

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