The government decided to ban private gatherings with more than 5 people and to extend social distancing for the 2.5th stage in the metropolitan area and the second stage in the non-metropolitan area by two weeks. On the 31st, on the outer wall of the Seoul Library, a large banner to keep the distance from the New Year holidays to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) is installed. yunhap news
As the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) did not decrease recently, the government decided to extend social distancing, which is the 2.5th stage in the metropolitan area and the second stage in the non-metropolitan area, by two more weeks. The ban on private gatherings with more than 5 people is also extended for 2 weeks until the 14th, so even a family member on the Lunar New Year holidays may be subject to a penalty of 100,000 won if 5 or more people gather.
At a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 31st, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Central Script) announced at a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 31st, “We will maintain the current distancing stage and major quarantine measures for the next two weeks, and the ban on private meetings with more than 5 people will be maintained until the Lunar New Year holidays.
However, the script said that the quarantine measures could be adjusted again, such as easing the distance distancing step on February 6-7, next weekend. “Considering the difficulty in determining the current epidemic situation, we will reconsider whether to ease the quarantine rules of multi-use facilities by judging the trend of patient occurrence and the risk of re-proliferation,” said Robber-Tae, the first general coordinator of the script.
The government decided to ban private gatherings with more than 5 people and to extend social distancing for the 2.5th stage in the metropolitan area and the second stage in the non-metropolitan area by two weeks. yunhap news
The number of new patients with Corona 19 per day surpassed 1,000 in December last year, and then continued a gentle decline this year, and then increased again with the recent outbreak of group infection initiated by the IM Mission. According to the script, the average number of domestic outbreaks per day in the past week (24-30 days) was about 424, up 40 from 384 the previous week (17-23 days). This is a number that exceeds the 2nd stage of social distancing, 3~400 people. The weekly infection reproductive index also fell to 0.79 three weeks ago, but rose again to 0.95 last week.
Kang said, “Currently, the number of patients is changing in an increasing trend, and the criteria for adjusting the distance stage are not met. The reproductive index of infection decreased to 0.79 and then rose to 0.95 for two consecutive weeks. Unlike the last Chuseok, the daily average number of patients is 400. When considering the high risk of spreading infection due to the Lunar New Year holiday, it was difficult to alleviate the current quarantine stage,” he explained.
Due to the extension of the quarantine measures, only 4 people are allowed to have family gatherings during the Lunar New Year holidays starting on the 11th. The family exception criterion is’family living together’. If even a family member who lives apart from the family gathers together, it violates the ban on private gatherings with more than 5 people. Regarding this, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division, Central Accident Control Headquarters (heavy copy), said, “It is practically difficult to administratively inspect all areas (government) and detect and punish them.” The following fines may be imposed.”
Social distancing step 2-2.5 steps. Graphic = Reporter Park Kyung-min [email protected]
In the script, the business restrictions for multi-use facilities will be maintained after 9 p.m., but some multi-use facilities quarantine rules that have been raised on equity issues have been adjusted to reflect the opinions of associations and organizations. In the case of concert halls and movie theaters, taking into account that no group infection occurred and masks can be worn at all times, the quarantine regulations were adjusted to raise one seat outside of the companion in step 1.5 and step 2, and two seats outside the companion in step 2.5.
In the case of indoor sports facilities in the metropolitan area, where the use of shower rooms was prohibited, one space was floated in the future so that shower rooms could be used. Winter sports facilities such as ski resorts were canceled after 9 pm. However, in order to reduce the amount of travel, the suspension of shuttle bus service to other regions will be maintained.
On the 31st, when the government announced that it would extend the current social distancing stage by two more weeks until the end of the Lunar New Year holidays, a merchant watches the February calendar while watching the announcement of the extension of distance on TV at the Gwangjang Market in Seoul. News 1
The government decided to re-determine whether or not to ease quarantine measures by monitoring the patient incidence trend and infection reproductive index for the next week. “The number of patients is increasing this week, but there is a side of it that is early to determine whether it is a temporary increase or a continually increasing re-proliferation phase.” “We plan to reconsider whether there is a way to partially alleviate the restriction on operation at 9 pm or the ban on grouping, while the possibility of step adjustment is also open.”
Experts once said that it was necessary to maintain a distance. Jae-wook Choi, a professor of preventive medicine at Korea University, said, “There is a possibility of going into a 4th pandemic if it is possible because group infections continue to occur. It may be possible to adjust detailed quarantine measures after 9 o’clock, but it is difficult to ease the distancing stage itself.”
Jeon Byung-ryul, a former professor of infectious medicine at Cha Medical University (former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), said, “Vaccination should start after making a stable phase. This is a signal that the government releases quarantine in a situation where the daily patient outbreak has not yet decreased. “If you take action that is deserving of it, it could have a negative impact on quarantine.”
Reporter Lee Tae-yoon [email protected]