As the government announced on the 2nd to re-extend the current distancing measures, self-employed people are expected to intensify. Self-employed people expected a way to ease business restrictions by taking meticulous quarantine measures for each industry, but they are in a situation where they have to endure the current situation for two more weeks.
On the 2nd, in front of the National Assembly, academia workers are protesting. Reporter Kwon Hye-rim
Through a regular briefing, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that the 2.5 steps for social distancing in the metropolitan area and the second step for non-capital areas will be extended by two more weeks until the 17th. The quarantine authorities explained, “As the weekend travel has decreased due to the effect of special quarantine measures for the year-end and New Year in effect from the 24th of last month, the current distance-taking steps will be extended until the effect of reducing the number of confirmed cases is properly achieved.”
“Based on less than 9 students in academy, it is not effective
In the case of academies and training centers in the metropolitan area, the operation was banned during the current distancing stage, but it was decided to allow the operation of nine or less teachers at the same time. However, among the academy workers, criticism comes out that this measure is a typical’desktop administration’ that has no effect.
On this day, in front of the Yeouido National Assembly in Seoul, a one-man demonstration of the academy industry workers continued from 10 am to 2 pm Omo, 38, who runs a practical music academy, criticized the quarantine authority’s guidelines as “a decision made without knowing the scene was to limit it to 9 people regardless of the size of the institute.” Mr. Oh said, “Is it possible that 9 people gathering at 33㎡ (10pyeong) and 9 people gathering at a 660㎡ (200pyeong) academy is the same?” and said, “It is more realistic to limit the number of people per ㎡ more carefully. “He said.
Some school operators also performed performances, hanging banners on vehicles and passing in front of the National Assembly. Mr. A, who drove from Mok-dong to the National Assembly with a banner on his vehicle, said, “We wanted to be eased to the limit of 1 person per 8㎡, which was the previous 2.5-step measure, but this government’s action is only for a small number of small academies or training centers, so most of them It is difficult to apply,” he said.
On the 29th of last month, in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, an official from the Pilates and Fitness Association held a one-person protest urging the lifting of the ban on collective indoor sports facilities. yunhap news
Meanwhile, there was no mention of indoor sports facilities such as fitness centers and Pilates centers, which were closed for nearly a month due to the’banning of gatherings’ in the announcement on this day. Accordingly, workers related to indoor sports facilities are planning an additional group action. Pilates fitness business association CEO Park Joo-hyung said, “From today’s announcement, we were expecting limited easing such as permitting business from today’s announcement to 9 p.m. and providing quarantine guidelines tailored to the site,” he said. “We plan to hold a small demonstration in front of the National Assembly next week.” They filed a lawsuit against the South Korean government on the 30th of last month, claiming compensation of 765 million won.
Self-employed and experts “Stop spreading to three stages”
The government decided to extend the ban on private gatherings of more than 5 people in the metropolitan area and expand it nationwide. Restaurants are still open until 9 PM, and cafes remain banned from eating indoors.
Mr. B, who operates three bakery cafes in downtown Seoul, said, “As a whole, sales have decreased by more than 50%. As the government only announced short-term measures for one week and two weeks, the business owner cannot come up with a long-term countermeasure.” It seems that it will be extended again, but it is better for the owner to open the door again while holding the spread in three stages.”
On the morning of the 15th of last month, Namdaemun Market in Seoul was busy. yunhap news
Jeong Mo, who runs a wine bar in Itaewon, said, “The burden of rent and labor costs is getting bigger due to the decrease in sales.” “The self-employed who can afford it economically will be able to withstand a little more, but the self-employed who have endured with loans have no choice but to worry about closing their business.” Said.
Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Daegu Guro Hospital, said, “The government’s ‘2.5 step + α (alpha)’ quarantine measures have not been effective. The number of confirmed cases is accumulating, the number of critically ill and dead, and the medical system is collapsing.” “I’ve been through the corona 19 situation for a year, and there are lessons learned, so I can formulate detailed countermeasures, but it’s a pity that nothing has changed in the new year.” He added, “If you apply 3 steps to distance yourself for about 2 weeks, you should provide a lot of subsidies to the self-employed and reduce the spread to 500 people or less to prevent the medical overload situation.”
Number of inspectors and new cases per day. Graphic = Reporter Kim Young-ok [email protected]
Reporter Kwon Hye-rim [email protected]