Lunar New Year’s turn, only up to 4 people… 9:00 p.m. business restrictions are discussed next week

The government recently decided to extend the current social distancing step (Seoul Metropolitan Area 2.5, National Phase 2) and the ban on meetings of five or more people for two weeks until February 14, taking into account the recent impact of group infection related to IM Mission. The ban on private meetings with more than 5 people applies without exception even during the Lunar New Year holidays, and direct family members cannot hold meetings with more than 5 people if their residence is different.

If this is violated, a fine of less than 100,000 won will be imposed. Until the end of the Lunar New Year holidays, the current quarantine system is maintained. Restrictions on business operations at cafes and restaurants after 9 p.m. will also remain the same. Taking into account the situation of self-employed people who are suffering from difficulties, it was decided to reconsider the adjustment of the restrictions on operation after monitoring the trend of patient occurrence for the next one week.

However, the government lifted the restrictions on operation so that winter sports facilities such as ski resorts can be operated after 9 PM. In stages 1.5 and 2, in stages 1.5 and 2, the quarantine regulations were adjusted to have one seat on the basis of the companion, not on an individual basis, and in stage 2.5, two seats in addition to the companion are allowed. In addition, indoor sports facilities such as gyms in the metropolitan area have been relaxed so that they can be used by placing shower booths one by one.

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun said at a briefing at the Central Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held on the 31st, “We intend to extend the current distancing steps and quarantine standards for two weeks until the end of the Lunar New Year holiday.”

Earlier, the government reviewed the reduction of social distancing steps as the third pandemic spread somewhat subsided. However, it is interpreted that this decision was made as the spread of the group increased again due to the recent group infection initiated by the IM Mission. In addition, concerns that premature easing of quarantine measures may give a false message to citizens seems to have been aroused as it is ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when the amount of movement increases.

Special quarantine measures for the Lunar New Year will also be implemented as scheduled. Railroad tickets are designed to minimize visits to their hometowns, such as selling only window seats and reviewing the conversion of tolls on expressways.

Prime Minister Chung also announced plans to supply a vaccine for Corona 19 in the first quarter. He said, “Pfizer vaccine 117,000 doses, about 60,000 people will enter the country as early as mid-February through the COVAX facility.” In addition to the Pfizer vaccine, AstraZeneca vaccine, which comes through COVAX, is also approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), and will be introduced for at least 1.3 million people and up to 2.19 million people in the first half. Of these, at least 300,000 people will be supplied in February and March. Apart from the quantity of COVAX, the AstraZeneca vaccine, which the government signed an individual contract, will also be supplied from the end of February if it passes the approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The government’s decision is interpreted as having a major impact on the recent slowing down of the 3rd pandemic spread, which was showing unusual signs again following the group infection from IM Mission and Hanyang University Hospital.

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