The government maintains the current level of'social distancing' (2.5 steps in the metropolitan area, 2 steps in the non-metropolitan area) until the 14th of this month, when the Lunar New Year holiday ends. It was announced today (today (6th)) that it will be extended by 1 hour until 10 o'clock.
This is a partial easing of business hours in non-metropolitan areas, where there are relatively few patients, as the number of self-employed people complaining of livelihoods has increased due to the recent two-month distance measures to curb the spread of the Korean Corona 19'third pandemic.
However, measures prohibiting all private gatherings with more than 5 people and special quarantine measures for the Lunar New Year remain the same.
Even during the Lunar New Year holidays, the ban on private meetings with more than 5 people applies without exception.
Accordingly, for personal purposes, more than 5 people cannot gather at the same place indoors or outdoors at the same time.
Family members who live in different places in the three bae, turn and rites can only gather up to four people.
The same applies to alumni associations, clubs, outings, company dinners, step-by-step meetings, housewarming, New Year's party, year-end party, first-birthday party, sixtieth birthday, seventieth birthday, and regular online cafe meetings.
Of course, it is not possible for more than 5 people to book or enter a restaurant or multi-use facility.
However, weddings, funerals, examinations, briefing sessions, and public hearings are exceptionally permitted.
However, even in this case, only 49 people or less in the metropolitan area and 99 people or less in the non-metropolitan area may be gathered according to the distancing measures.
In addition, if a family with the same residence is gathered, children, the elderly, or disabled people need care, or if there is a possibility of dying and the family gathers, even five or more people can gather.
The 2.5-stage measures in the metropolitan area, which have been taking place for nearly two months since December 8 last year, will continue until the 14th, about a week later.
Accordingly, restrictions on business operations after 9 pm for multi-use facilities will also be maintained.
The limit for one person per 8㎡ (about 2.4 pyeong) placed in indoor sports facilities such as gyms, singing practice centers, and academies is also valid.
The shower room in the indoor sports facility can be used with an interval between the booths.
Direct sales promotion centers operated by businesses such as door-to-door sales are limited to one person per 16m2 as before, and indoor standing venues must have a space of 2m between seats.
In restaurants and cafes, you can eat until 9 p.m. and wear a mask when you are not eating.
Violation of this will result in a penalty of not more than 100,000 won.
In particular, when two or more people order drinks and snacks at a restaurant or café, the usage time in the store is limited to within 1 hour.
In the case of low-risk religious activities such as regular worship, court meetings, and Mass, face-to-face worship is allowed within 10% of the total number of seats in the metropolitan area and 20% in the non-metropolitan area.
Accommodations only require reservations within two-thirds of the total number of rooms, and the ban on accommodations if the number of guests per room is exceeded is also extended for two weeks.
In step 2.5, meetings and events of 50 or more people are prohibited in accordance with the principle of staying at home as much as possible and refraining from going out, gatherings, and using multi-use facilities, and some multi-use facilities are also closed.
In particular, in addition to five types of entertainment facilities, such as clubs, collages, danran pubs, hunting pot tea, and emotional pubs, where group infections were frequent, hold'em pubs, etc., continue to be banned from business.
Most general management facilities such as marts, PC rooms, entertainment rooms, beauty rooms, movie theaters, and reading rooms are closed after 9pm and cannot be tasted at stores, marts, and department stores.
In movie theaters and performance halls, seats are floated in groups of two, not individual units.
For wedding and funeral halls, the number of guests is limited to less than 50.
In addition, telecommuting and remote classes are expanded, the operation of the academy is suspended, and it is recommended that reservations can be made only within 50% of transportation (excluding aircraft) such as KTX and highway buses.
Measures added to'Step 2+α' will also be maintained, such as banning the operation of sauna and steam facilities in the bathing area and banning events and parties organized by accommodation facilities.
Sports events are held without spectators.
In the non-metropolitan area where the second-stage measures are maintained, the restrictions on business operations for multi-use facilities will be somewhat relaxed.
Direct sales promotion halls such as restaurants and cafes, indoor sports facilities, singing practice rooms, indoor standing performance halls, party rooms, door-to-door sales, etc. are currently extended by 1 hour from 9pm to 10pm.
In the case of restaurants and cafes, only packaging and delivery are possible after 10 pm, as before.
In addition, if more than one person ordered only coffee, beverages, or simple desserts, we strongly recommend that you limit the usage time.
Indoor sports facilities are limited to one person per 4㎡ (about 1.2 pyeong).
Earlier, for winter sports facilities such as ski resorts, ice rinks, and snow sledding, the suspension of business has been lifted after 9 p.m., and in movie theaters and performance halls, you can sit down one space per group.
Due to the ban on gatherings and events with more than 100 people, weddings and funeral halls are limited to less than 100 people.
Food intake is prohibited in public baths, recreation rooms, multi-rooms, academies, and vocational training institutions, and the density should be reduced by'floating'.
Sports venues are limited to 10% of the capacity to receive spectators.
(Photo = Yonhap News)