Customers are singing songs at a coin karaoke room in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 18th, when the use of multi-use facilities such as a gym, billiard room, karaoke room, and coin karaoke room resumed. The government allowed some multi-use facilities to resume operation, and reinforced the number of personnel from the existing 4㎡ to 1 person per 8㎡. Newsis
On the 18th, when the new distance adjustment plan was applied, the operation of the singing practice range was limited again. Earlier, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (middle script) pondered whether or not to release the karaoke room, which is a key management facility, from the group ban. This is because the risk of infection is high. The quarantine authorities once again emphasized the quarantine rules for karaoke.
Young-rae Son, head of the Strategic Planning Division of the Central Accident Recovery Headquarters (Heavy Water), said at a press conference held on the 19th. “(Korea) is currently on a decline, but we cannot be vigilant. In particular, I want to emphasize the quarantine rules of the singing practice room.”
112,000 places, including karaoke rooms, indoor sports facilities, door-to-door sales halls, and indoor standing performance halls, were allowed to operate until 9:00 p.m. on the condition that the number of people used during the same time is limited to one per 8㎡ (about 2.4 pyeong).
A coin singing practice center in Seoul. Central photo
However, in the case of singing practice, these quarantine rules were confused. It is interpreted to mean that only one person enters the room. “Even when entering a room, there is no limit to 1 person per 8㎡,” said Son, head of Strategic Planning Team. “According to the ban on private gatherings of 5 or more people, up to 4 people are allowed regardless of room size. “In order to maintain a distance of at least 1m, the number of people (in one room) must be reduced to 1-3 people.”
Karaoke is an environment that is prone to droplets. Therefore, the quarantine authorities urge that after using the guest, water droplets (saliva) that may float in the air should be dropped to the floor by spraying water with a watering can. Ventilation for 30 minutes after disinfection is also essential. Afterwards, it receives the next guest.
“In the past group infection cases, the singing practice center sings songs for a long time in a confined space, so even if you wear a mask, drops of saliva are discharged.” He said, “There are cases where saliva droplets that are continuously discharged may float in the air later,” he said. “There are cases where saliva droplets spread to other rooms or hallways 6 to 7 meters away, leading to infection.”
On the other hand, according to the results of an analysis and release of statistics from the Ministry of Public Administration and Security on the 19th by a profitable real estate research and development company, the number of closing of the singing practice center was 2137 last year, the highest in 13 years since 2007 (2460). By region, Gyeonggi-do was the largest with 524, followed by Seoul (369), Busan (163), Daegu (141), Gwangju (81), Ulsan (54), and Daejeon (46).
Reporter Lee Tae-yoon [email protected]