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| ▲ Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun is presiding over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in response to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) held at the government office in Seoul on the morning of the 16th on a holiday. | |
| Ⓒ Yonhap News |
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The government has decided to extend the 2.5 steps for distance distance in the metropolitan area by two weeks, but restricts the business of multi-use facilities such as indoor sports facilities and academies and face-to-face religious activities.
The government’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced on the 16th that it held a video conference at the Seoul Government Complex, presided over by Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun (Head of Headquarters), and discussed the current status of the corona and measures to adjust social distancing.
2.5 steps in the metropolitan area, 2 steps in the non-metropolitan area, 2 weeks extension
At the meeting that day, the government decided to extend the 2.5-step distance to the metropolitan area and the second-step non-capital area for two weeks from January 18 to January 31. The ban on private gatherings with more than 5 people will also be extended for two weeks nationwide.
Accordingly, meetings and events with more than 50 people are prohibited in the metropolitan area, and multi-use facilities such as restaurants are restricted after 9 pm. Sports competitions are held without spectators. In the non-metropolitan area, gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited, and entry to sports events is allowed within 10% of the capacity.
Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said at a briefing on the day that “it has prevented the spread of the third epidemic and has turned to a decline, but it is not in a safe situation yet.” “There is a couple more months left in the winter, when the virus is active, and there is a risk of reproliferation if mitigation measures are taken. It also exists,” he explained.
However, it has decided to allow the business of multi-use facilities such as indoor sports facilities and academies, which are currently prohibited to gather. Businesses in which the ban on gatherings is lifted are indoor sports facilities, academies, karaoke rooms, indoor standing performance halls, and door-to-door sales offices.
Limited business allowances such as gym, academy, and karaoke
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| ▲ Members of the Federation of Pilates Fitness Operators, which operate indoor sports facilities such as gyms and pilates training centers, held a press conference in front of the company of the Democratic Party in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 7th, protesting the closure of indoor sports facilities due to quarantine measures against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Requested abolition of the ban on gatherings. | |
| Ⓒ Yoo Seongho |
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These facilities limit the number of users to 1 per 8㎡ of area (1 per 16㎡ of door-to-door sales business). A mask must be worn at all times even in the facility, and eating and drinking are prohibited. Like a regular restaurant, it should close after 9pm.
The government has also prepared detailed guidelines for each industry. Indoor sports facilities prohibit the use of vigorous GX programs such as aerobics and Zumba, and shower rooms, and the academy also limited the number of people in one space to a maximum of four (when partitions are installed). Karaoke rooms are also allowed for up to 4 people per room, and rooms used by guests must be used 30 minutes after disinfection.
Cafés, which have only been allowed for packaging and delivery, are allowed to eat in stores until 9 pm. However, only 50% of the seats in the store should be used, and space between tables or partitions should be installed.
Minister Kwon said, “For multi-use facilities, some quarantine measures have been adjusted in consideration of the fact that group infection is decreasing and the difficulty of living is increasing.” Adjustment of the measures will be carefully expanded in stages,” he explained.
Face-to-face religious activities such as regular worship and Mass are also limited
Some face-to-face religious activities are also allowed. For regular worship services, Mass, and court meetings, up to 10% of seats in the metropolitan area and up to 20% of seats in the non-metropolitan area are allowed face-to-face. However, all types of gatherings and meals, such as revival meetings, Bible study meetings, and visits with a high risk of infection, are prohibited, and even prayer centers and training centers cannot provide lodging and food.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters decided to prepare and implement special quarantine measures for the Lunar New Year from February 1 to February 14, including the Lunar New Year holidays. For railroad tickets, only window seats were sold, and it was decided to consider ways to pay highway tolls. The number of passengers on board of coastal passenger ships is also managed at 50% of the capacity, and measures to reduce the total amount of travel will be implemented.
Expressway rest areas are also planning to operate a congestion information system and ban indoor eating (only package sales are allowed). It was decided to ban visits to nursing hospitals and facilities with high risk of group infection according to social distancing stages.
Minister Kwon said, “We recommend that you take your turn safely through video calls so that it can be a holiday that prioritizes quarantine.”