From today (4th) to the 17th, a new 'social distancing' adjustment plan will be implemented to extend the business hours of private gatherings up to 10 people for two weeks and multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes to 12:00 pm.



Private gatherings are limited to 10 people, regardless of vaccination history.



Exceptions are made to the number of persons living together, as well as carers for children, the elderly, and the disabled.



Multi-use facilities whose business hours are extended until 12 pm include entertainment pubs, danran pubs, clubs (night), emotional pubs, hunting pochas, Collatec Martial Arts Center, restaurants and cafes, singing practice areas, bathhouses, indoor sports facilities, and lifelong vocational education. Academy, PC room, arcade/multi room, casino, party room, massage/massage room, movie theater/performance hall, etc.



Movie theaters and performance halls allow the last screening/performance start time until 12:00 p.m.



However, the closing time must not exceed 2 am the next day.



Measures related to events, assemblies, and religious facilities will remain as they are.



Irregular performances, sports competitions, and festivals with more than 300 people can only be held with approval from the relevant ministries.



Regular religious activities such as masses, rites, worship services, and sealing ceremonies can be carried out within 70% of the occupancy, regardless of inoculation or not.



In addition, local clinics will be able to treat COVID-19 patients face-to-face by designating an 'outpatient treatment center'.



The government previously allowed patients infected with COVID-19 during inpatient treatment to continue receiving treatment in general hospitals rather than isolation beds, and is expanding outpatient treatment centers so that confirmed patients can receive face-to-face treatment at local hospitals.



From today, clinic-level medical institutions can provide face-to-face treatment to confirmed patients by faxing (☎033-811-7621) to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for designation of an outpatient treatment center.



The number of outpatient treatment centers disclosed on the HIRA website is 576 nationwide as of the 1st, and medical institutions added over the weekend will be reflected in the list from today.



Accordingly, home therapists can receive face-to-face treatment at a nearby outpatient treatment center by making a reservation in advance, even during quarantine.



In addition, from the 11th, a week later, the rapid antigen test, which was offered free of charge at screening clinics and temporary screening centers of public health centers nationwide, will be stopped.



Accordingly, if you wish to have a rapid antigen test, you can visit a nearby respiratory clinic or designated medical institution for respiratory treatment.



Those who are prioritized for testing, such as those over 60 years of age, those who have received a doctor's note saying they need testing, and those with epidemiologic factors such as close contacts, can continue to receive PCR (gene amplification) testing at public health centers as before.



The authorities plan to focus the medical capabilities secured through this on the high-risk groups and other vulnerable groups.



The government believes that the Omicron pandemic has passed its peak and is on a downward trend, and is gradually easing the distancing measures while shifting toward absorbing COVID-19 patients from the daily medical system.



By 9 pm yesterday, the number of new confirmed cases was 127,892, a drop of more than 100,000 from the previous day.



(Photo = Yonhap News)