National department store and mart quarantine pass seems to be lifted... announcing today

<Anchor>

It seems that the application of the quarantine pass will be lifted at department stores and hypermarkets across the country. Last weekend, the Seoul Bay quarantine pass was suspended due to a court decision, and the government is actively considering expanding it nationwide. The government is expected to announce the relevant information today (17th).

This is reporter Jeong Da-eun.

<Reporter>

In front of the entrance to a large mart in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do, people lined up to authenticate the quarantine pass.

[I would like a quarantine pass, please.]

The application of the quarantine pass was suspended in accordance with the court's decision last Friday at department stores and hypermarkets in Seoul, but in other areas, you cannot enter without a quarantine pass. 

Citizens complain of different quarantine guidelines by region.

[Han Cheol-hee / Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do: I don't feel it's fair. Because my company is in Seoul and I live here... I'm very confused. I think I will unconsciously act the same.]

It is argued that the government should quickly clear up the confusion.

[Choi Jae-wook / Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University Medical School: There is also an issue of equity. Disable all other areas as well, do not apply the quarantine pass, places like supermarkets. We have to give guidelines like this.]

There is also a point that the target of the quarantine pass was expanded unreasonably at first. 

[Kim Yun/Professor of Medical Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine: Korea is a place where the number of confirmed cases is not so high unlike the United States or Europe, but it is also about whether it is right to apply the same level of quarantine pass as other countries do.

] We had a meeting yesterday afternoon and decided to release quarantine passes at department stores and hypermarkets across the country.

However, we are considering the application of other quarantine measures, such as limiting the number of people by area, and we plan to announce some adjustments to the quarantine pass today.