Reorganized into ‘4 steps’ to keep distance… “Up to 8 people in the current situation, meeting without time limit”

Input 2021.03.05 15:28 | Revision 2021.03.05 19:09

The government has released a draft reorganization plan that will reduce the social distancing system from the current 5th stage to 4th stage. Currently, the metropolitan area and the whole country are in the second stage of the changing distance system, and up to 8 people can have private meetings at restaurants, etc. without time limit.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare released the draft on the afternoon of the 5th at a public hearing on the reorganization of the distance positioning system held at the LW Convention in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is planning to finalize the final draft within this month after collecting public opinion. The specific application time has not yet been determined as the point at which the nation’s first stage will be based on the basis of the reorganization plan.

According to the draft reorganization plan, the current 5 steps (1→1.5→2→2.5→3) will be reorganized into 1-4 steps. Quarantine measures such as observing basic rules → limiting the number of users → prohibiting private gatherings → prohibiting going out will be implemented according to the level of upgrade.

The distance step is determined based on the’average daily number of domestic cases per 100,000 population per week’ in the region. If this index is less than 0.7, it is in the first stage, if it is more than 0.7, it is in the second stage, if it is more than 1.5, it is in the third stage, and if there are three or more, it is in the fourth stage.

In the metropolitan area, if the average number of confirmed patients per 100,000 per week is less than 181, it is in the first stage, 181 or more in the second stage, 389 or more in the third stage, and 778 or more in the fourth stage.

By national standards, if the number of confirmed cases exceeds 363, the second stage, if there are more than 778, the third stage, and if there are more than 1556, the fourth stage. If this reorganization plan is applied, the current metropolitan area and the whole country are in the second stage of distancing.

In the case of banning private gatherings, there are no restrictions in the first stage. In the second stage, it is allowed to gather up to 8 people (no meetings of 9 or more people), and in the 3rd to 4th stage, up to 4 people (no meetings of 5 or more) are allowed. However, in the fourth stage, the’prohibition of meetings of three or more people’, which allows only two people to gather after 6 pm, is applied.

For multi-use facilities, most of the collective ban, which means business bans are virtually abolished under the basis of voluntary and responsibility. Excluding some entertainment facilities such as clubs, hunting pots, and sensational pubs, you can also operate in the fourth stage. However, the operating time limit is sequentially limited from step 3 to 9:00 p.m. for each type of business.

In determining the stage, the reproductive index of infection and the rate of unknown infection route are considered together. In particular, in the decision of steps 3-4, whether the intensive care unit utilization rate has exceeded 70% is also included in the judgment criteria.

Step 1 is a state in which epidemic deterrence is maintained continuously, and basic quarantine rules such as maintaining a distance of at least 1m to prevent ‘3 mils’ (close, dense, airtight) can be observed. In the second stage, a regional epidemic has begun, and private gatherings are only possible for up to 8 people, and for multi-use facilities, the number of users must be maintained at 1 per 8㎡ (approximately 2.4 pyeong). Assembly of more than 100 people is prohibited.

Stage 3 is a state in which the epidemic is in progress in the area, and private meetings are possible for up to 4 people, and a recommendation is made to refrain from going out after 9 pm. This is the time when restrictions on the use of multi-use facilities begin, and entertainment facilities and singing practice areas are only open until 9:00 pm, and assemblies of 50 or more people are prohibited.

Stage 4 is a state in which the nation’s quarantine and medical systems have reached their limits as Corona 19 has entered a pandemic phase. Basically, going out other than commuting is prohibited. As in step 3, private meetings are possible for up to 4 people, and after 6 pm, only 2 people can meet.

All multi-use facilities subject to management must close at 9 PM. For clubs (including nights), hunting pots, and sensational pubs, a group prohibition order is issued. All assemblies other than single-person demonstrations are not permitted.

The authority for coordination in steps 1 to 3 is shared by the Si/Gun/Gu, the city/province, and the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (the heavy script), but only the heavy script can be determined for the fourth level coordination.