Korea tightens social distancing measures again

Private gatherings restricted to 4 ppl maximum

For 16 days from the 18th…will apply ‘vaccine pass’ nationwide

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Korea has led the government to once again tighten the reins on social distancing while focusing on encouraging booster shot vaccinations.

 

Private gatherings will be once again limited to no more than four people in all areas regardless of region, and a ‘vaccine pass’ that differs the level of restrictions imposed based on vaccination status will be applied.

 

On the 16th, the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum) held a meeting with central ministries and 17 regional governments at the video conference room in the video conference room of the Central Government Complex in Seoul to discuss strengthening the social distancing measures by expanding booster vaccination and expanding medical capacity to establish a continuous basis for the phased recovery to daily life.  Currently, Korea’s COVID-19 urgency assessment showed Korea to be at ‘very-high’ risk in all regions - nationwide, metropolitan, and non-metropolitan areas – for two consecutive weeks since last week.

 

The intensive care bed operation rate reached 81.6% nationwide, 86.4% in metropolitan areas, and 72.9% in non-metropolitan areas.

 

In particular, the surge in intensive care operation rate in non-metropolitan areas with relatively low medical response capacity was deemed a major risk factor that could lead to a nationwide medical collapse.

 

With the number of non-vaccinated people over the age of 60 that have a high probability of infection still nearing 910,000 (6.9%) and the number of cases of severe and critical COVID-19 and deaths similar in the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, it is necessary to protect the elderly who are not vaccinated through vaccination.

 

With booster vaccination rates nearing 87%, the rate of mass infection is falling in long-term care hospitals and facilities, but the booster vaccination rate in those 60 years or older is still low at 46.4%.

 

Therefore, the government decided to implement strengthened social distancing measures to block further transmission of COVD-19 in non-vaccinated people that account for half of the severe and critical COVID-19 patients and deaths and minimize individual contact to ultimately remove the overall risk factors remaining in society.

 

The strengthened social distancing measures will be implemented for 16 days from the 18th of this month to January 2nd.

 

The authorities readjusted the number of people allowed for private gatherings to reduce contact between individuals in consideration of the seasonal factor and the increased risk of transmission from year-end and new year gatherings and other indoor activities.

 

Therefore, the number of people allowed for social gatherings that were 6 in metropolitan and 8 in non-metropolitan areas was reduced to 4 regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.

 

However, the existing exclusion that was applied to immediate families in cohabitation, individuals in need of care (children, elderly, and the disabled), etc.

 

remain effective.

 

Also, under the changed measures, non-vaccinated individuals may now only use restaurants and cafes alone.

 

Also, taking into account the increased risk of COVID-19 transmission if activities extend to late-night hours and are associated with alcohol consumption and non-mask use, the authorities restricted the operation hours of multi-use facilities to 9 or 10 p.m.

 

for the next 2 weeks.

 

Operation hours for Group 1 facilities (entertainment facilities) and Group 2 facilities (restaurants, cafes, singing rooms, public baths, indoor sports facilities) will be restricted to 9:00 p.m., and the hours for Group 3 and other facilities (movie theaters, performance centers, game arcade, multi-rooms, casinos, internet café(PC rooms), private academies, massage salons, party rooms) will be restricted to 10 p.m.

 

Sizes of events and assemblies will also be restricted.

 

Currently, events and assemblies with less than 100 participants are allowed regardless of vaccination status, and up to 499 vaccinated individuals may gather for events, and assemblies with over 100 participants are allowed.

 

However, the strengthened measures restrict the number of participants to 50 regardless of vaccination status, and up to 299 vaccinated individuals may gather for events and assemblies with over 50 participants.

 

Although events with over 300 participants (limited to those held in non-regular performance centers, sports competitions, festivals) are prohibited in principle, they may be held as an exception with prior approval from relevant ministries.

 

For the next two weeks, all events other than essential events will be disapproved in consideration of the severe COVID-19 situation.

 

Also, official duties and events related to essential corporate activities that were exempted from being applied the vaccine pass will be subject to the same restrictions if there are more than 50 participants (no increase in participants allowed), and exhibitions, expos, and international conferences that had been managed with a separate regulation is also applied the vaccine pass if there are more than 50 participants (no increase in participants allowed).