Starting today, no more than 5 people are allowed nationwide… Limited operation of academy and ski resorts

Input 2021.01.04 06:58

The government has decided to maintain the current “social distance” (2.5 steps in the metropolitan area, 2 steps in the non-metropolitan area) for two more weeks to curb the spread of the’third pandemic’ of the new coronavirus infection in Korea (Corona 19).

In particular, the ban on’private gatherings for more than 5 people’, which has been applied only in the metropolitan area, will be expanded nationwide. Accordingly, all meetings, including lunch and dinner with coworkers at a restaurant, including △dinners, △alumni associations, △communities, △family meetings, △housewarmings, △new year’s meetings, △online cafes, cannot be held with more than 5 people. Violation of these quarantine rules will result in a fine of 3 million won or less to operators and 100,000 won or less to users.

However, in cases where families with the same living space gather, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, etc., need to be cared for, or if there is a possibility of dying and family members gather, etc., five or more people can gather. Also, workers who work in multi-use facilities are excluded. Weddings, funerals, and various tests are exceptionally allowed, but the number of people is limited to less than 50 in the 2.5th level area and less than 100 in the 2nd level.

With this measure, even restaurants nationwide can only accept reservations for up to 4 people. Even if 5 people meet and divide into 2 and 3 people, it is not allowed because 5 people have already gathered.

Accommodation facilities nationwide, such as △hotels, resorts, and guesthouses, can only accept reservations within two-thirds of the total number of rooms, and guests who exceed the number of rooms cannot be accommodated. As measures to restrict events and parties continue for another two weeks, various events and parties organized by accommodation facilities are prohibited, and’party rooms’ nationwide cannot be operated for the time being.

Regarding religious facilities, measures in accordance with the 2.5 step distance were applied nationwide so that regular worship, Mass, court meetings, and ceremonies were conducted non-face-to-face. Meetings or meals organized by religious facilities are prohibited.

A measure was added to ban the operation of closed outdoor screen golf courses in the metropolitan area. It is according to the point that there are many cases of meeting while eating at outdoor screen golf courses.

However, some schools and training centers in the metropolitan area, and ski resorts across the country, which had been banned from operation amid fears of corona 19 infection, were partially allowed to open on conditions that limit the number of people and operating hours.

First, winter sports facilities such as ski resorts across the country were allowed to operate, but the capacity was limited to one-third and closed after 9pm. Equipment rental facilities and changing rooms can be operated, but the ban on gatherings in △restaurant △cafe △entertainment room △karaoke room located inside the ski resort is maintained.

Schools and training centers in the metropolitan area can also be reopened. The government decided to allow the operation under the premise that the quarantine rules were observed if the number of teachers in the same time period was up to 9 in consideration of the issue of caregiving gaps during vacation. The same goes for Taekwondo academies and ballet academies where infants and young children attend.

It is impossible to ease this measure on its own by local governments, and only strengthening it is allowed.