From next week, the maximum number of private gatherings will be limited to 6 people in the metropolitan area and 8 people in non-metropolitan areas.



According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters today (the 5th), the number of private gatherings, up to 10 people in the metropolitan area and 12 people in non-metropolitan areas, will be reduced to 6 people in the metropolitan area and 8 people in the non-metropolitan area for 4 weeks from the 6th, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. .



This decision was made on a compromise between limiting large gatherings during the year-end and New Year holidays, but allowing small gatherings to be possible.



In addition, the quarantine pass, which was limitedly applied to some high-risk facilities such as indoor sports facilities, singing practice areas, public baths, and entertainment facilities, is extended to multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes with high frequency of use.



The government explained that it has expanded the scope of application to indoor public facilities where it is difficult to wear a mask or there is a high possibility of close contact to prevent infection by people who are not vaccinated.




Accordingly, when using restaurants/cafes, academies, PC rooms, movie theaters, performance halls, libraries, reading rooms, study cafes, museums, art galleries, etc., you need a certificate that two weeks (14 days) have passed since the completion of vaccination or PCR negative confirmation. do.



However, even those who are not vaccinated will not apply the quarantine pass with an exception if they use a restaurant or cafe alone.



In addition, when holding private meetings at restaurants and cafes, it is decided to allow up to one unvaccinated person within the maximum permissible range for each region.



Considering that these facilities are essential for basic living.



Exceptions to the quarantine pass include wholesale and retail businesses, markets, marts, department stores, wedding halls, funerals, first birthday parties, amusement parks (amusement parks and water parks), arcades, outdoor sports facilities, lodging facilities, and religious facilities, where it is difficult to check the quarantine pass for users. target.



The measures to expand the quarantine pass will be implemented from the 6th, but it has been decided to go through a one-week guidance period to minimize confusion at the site.



Therefore, in case of violation, penalties such as fines will be imposed from the 13th.



The quarantine pass is implemented in a way that partially adjusts the application target depending on the situation without a separate termination period.



In addition, from February of next year, the age eligible for the quarantine pass includes youth born from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2009.



Recently, as the number of infections has rapidly increased, especially in schools and private institutes, the scope of exceptions to the quarantine pass has been reduced and school-age adolescents have been included in the scope of application.



However, if the quarantine pass is applied to not only restaurants, cafes, and concert halls, but also spaces such as academies, libraries, and PC rooms used by young people for learning, the controversy over discrimination against those who are not vaccinated is likely to increase.



(Photo = Yonhap News)