Starting Tomorrow, 'Popcorn' Allowed in Movie Theaters and 'Chimaek' Permitted in Dome Stadiums

As the government postponed the transition to Phase 2 of the gradual return to normal life (With Corona) and announced special quarantine measures for four weeks due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, a notice regarding food consumption is posted at a movie theater in Seoul on the 30th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Starting from the 25th, eating and drinking will be allowed not only in movie theaters and indoor sports venues but also on trains and domestic flights. From the 30th of this month until the 22nd of next month, contact visits at nursing hospitals and care facilities will also be temporarily permitted.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 24th, eating and drinking will be allowed in indoor multi-use facilities starting on the 25th. Until now, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections, the authorities had prohibited the consumption of food other than water and non-alcoholic beverages in indoor multi-use facilities.

According to government policy, the ban on eating and drinking, which applied to ▲ singing (coin) practice rooms ▲ indoor sports facilities ▲ bathhouses ▲ bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing, domestic casinos ▲ movie theaters and performance halls ▲ multi-rooms ▲ indoor sports viewing venues ▲ museums, art galleries, and science centers ▲ libraries ▲ massage parlors and anma (Korean massage) shops ▲ stores, marts, and department stores ▲ arcades ▲ exhibitions and fairs ▲ beauty salons ▲ academies ▲ reading rooms and study cafes ▲ religious facilities ▲ door-to-door sales promotion centers, and transportation modes such as buses, subways, and taxis excluding international flights, will be lifted at 0:00 on the 25th. This means it will be possible to eat popcorn while watching a movie in a theater or enjoy "chimaek" (chicken and beer) at a dome stadium.

On public transportation such as railways, domestic flights, intercity, express, and charter buses, the authorities recommend consuming simple food and beverages quickly. However, for city and village buses, since some local governments had restricted bringing in food even before the COVID-19 outbreak, the ban on eating inside will remain in place.

Tasting and sampling will also be allowed in distribution facilities such as large supermarkets and department stores. However, to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection, tasting and sampling events must be held in designated special eating management zones, with at least 3 meters between event facilities and at least 1 meter between people while eating.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters also decided to temporarily allow contact visits at nursing hospitals and facilities from the 30th of this month to the 22nd of next month in celebration of May as Family Month. Since contact visits were banned from November 18th last year, demands from the elderly and their families have increased, and this measure considers the recent decline in COVID-19 cases. However, contact visits are only allowed if one meets one of the criteria for vaccination or quarantine release.

Previously infected hospitalized patients or residents and visitors can have contact visits if they have completed the second vaccination. For those not fully vaccinated, hospitalized patients or residents must have received the fourth dose, and visitors must have received the third dose. Visitors aged 17 or younger can have contact visits if they have completed the second dose. People who have been released from self-quarantine for more than 3 days and less than 90 days can have contact visits regardless of vaccination status.

Up to four visitors per hospitalized patient or resident are allowed, and contact visits must be made through prior reservation at each institution. Visitors must have a negative PCR test or professional rapid antigen test result within 48 hours. If prior testing is difficult, visitors can bring a self-test kit and verify the result on-site.

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