Gwangju City to Implement Government-Revised Social Distancing Level 1 Starting from the 7th

On the afternoon of the 5th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held an online press conference in the city hall briefing room, announcing the maintenance of Level 1 social distancing for COVID-19 and measures to strengthen the precision quarantine system to block infections. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City will maintain Level 1 (everyday social distancing), the lowest level among the government's five-stage restructuring, starting from the 7th.

While easing regulations on the daily lives of ordinary citizens to maximize the guarantee of their daily life and economic activities, quarantine measures to block infections will be further strengthened through a customized precision quarantine system.

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, announced this during an online briefing on COVID-19 response at 2 p.m. on the 5th.

According to Gwangju City's announcement, gatherings and events held indoors and outdoors can be held without restrictions on the number of participants.

However, gatherings and events with more than 500 people must establish their own quarantine management plans, report to the relevant district office, and consult with them. They must also mandatorily comply with core quarantine rules such as wearing masks and managing visitor lists.

Although only 11 types of government-designated high-risk facilities such as entertainment bars were previously required to comply with core quarantine rules, from now on, a total of 23 types of facilities, including 9 government-designated priority management facilities and 14 general management facilities, must mandatorily implement three quarantine rules: wearing masks, managing visitor logs, and periodic ventilation and disinfection. Additionally, the 9 priority management facilities have added core quarantine rules such as usage limits according to the characteristics of each facility.

The priority management facilities include ▲ five types of entertainment facilities (clubs, room salons, etc., entertainment bars, karaoke bars, emotional pubs, colatecs, hunting pubs) ▲ singing practice rooms ▲ indoor standing performance halls ▲ restaurants and cafes (general restaurants, snack bars, bakeries, 150㎡ or larger) ▲ direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales.

The general management facilities include ▲ PC rooms ▲ wedding halls ▲ funeral halls ▲ academies (including tutoring centers) ▲ vocational training institutions ▲ bathhouses ▲ performance halls ▲ movie theaters ▲ amusement parks ▲ arcades and multi-rooms ▲ hair and beauty salons ▲ stores, marts, and department stores (general retail, 300㎡ or larger) ▲ indoor sports facilities ▲ reading rooms and study cafes.

Public facilities, which previously allowed only up to 50% of their capacity, will now be allowed to operate at 100% capacity. However, screen horse racing venues will be limited to 50% capacity according to government policy, and spectator attendance at sports games will be expanded from the previous 30% to 50%.

Senior centers and other social welfare facilities, as well as daycare centers, will also operate normally.

However, meals are prohibited within social welfare facilities. In nursing homes for the elderly, due to the very high risk of infection spread and fatality when confirmed cases occur within the facility, only limited non-contact visits are allowed.

Religious activities must enforce seating with one seat apart during regular worship services, recommend refraining from small gatherings and meals within facilities, and prohibit overnight events.

Additionally, starting from the 13th, a fine will be imposed nationwide for not wearing masks indoors and in crowded outdoor areas.

Facilities where fines will be imposed for not wearing masks include the 23 types of priority and general management facilities, public transportation, assembly and protest sites, medical institutions and pharmacies, nursing and day care facilities, gatherings and events with more than 500 people, indoor sports stadiums, call centers, and others.

Violators will be fined up to 100,000 KRW, and facility managers/operators who have the obligation to notify users to wear masks will be fined up to 3 million KRW.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "According to a recent public opinion survey by the Gwangju City Council, 85.7% of citizens positively evaluated our city's COVID-19 response," and added, "We are grateful to the citizens who have given us such generous evaluations even though we have only fulfilled our proper roles and responsibilities as quarantine authorities."

He added, "Complacency is absolutely forbidden. Only strict compliance with quarantine rules such as wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing is the only way to protect the lives and safety of individuals and families," and said, "The quarantine authorities will continue to build a more detailed and solid quarantine network based on the experience of the past nine months."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.