▲ Press conference on June 30
Chungcheongnam-do announced that on July 1, it will move into the Phase 1 Social Distancing according to the government’s social distancing criteria.
This decision comes after comprehensively considering the trend of COVID-19 cases detected in June in the province, the level of epidemic prevention, and the strengthening of the medical system upon reaching vaccination targets in the first half of the year.
The new social distancing plan simplified the previous five phases of social distancing into four phases, eased requirements for adjusting the phase of social distancing, and provided more autonomy to local governments.
In particular, depending on the level of infection and contagiousness, publicly used facilities are divided into three groups, and infection prevention control measures will be strengthened for groups deemed higher risk.
The province will lower the restriction on the number of individuals at private gatherings and permit up to 499 persons for events and gatherings (events with 500 or more participants require reporting to relevant local authorities) and allow religious facilities to accept up to 50% capacity.
According to epidemic infection prevention measures by facility, with regard to the five types of entertainment facilities, dancing halls, and hold’em pubs (Group 1 facilities), restriction on space will be relaxed to one person per 6㎡, and there will be no restriction on operation hours.
Nightclubs are required to have one person per 8㎡.
Restaurants and cafes (group 2 facilities) must continue to keep one meter between tables or install partitions. Karaoke and door-to-door sales (direct sale promotion stores) are required to apply stricter standards of one person per 6㎡.
Wedding halls and funeral sites (Group 3 facilities) are required to have one person per 4㎡, and hairdressing services, game rooms, and multirooms shall have one person per 6㎡.
Accommodation facilities classified as ‘other facilities’ are banned from exceeding their capacities, except for direct family members, and schools can operate as usual in Phases 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, rules for epidemic prevention measures for vaccinated persons will be changed.
From July, vaccinated individuals are allowed to remove masks outdoors two weeks after vaccination.
However, people must wear masks indoors and for events or gatherings with many people outdoors
▲ Press conference on June 30
To respond to the changed rules of social distancing, the province will operate epidemic prevention centers that will supervise the adjustment of social distancing phases, and implement intensive control of high-risk facilities in cooperation with provincial, city, and county civilian councils, and take preemptive and preventive measures, such as securing hospital beds.
Until July, Chungcheongnam-do will run a special prevention and control period to conduct campaigns to crack down on mass gatherings where drinking is involved, and until September, the province will implement vaccination rollout plans without delay.
In addition, the province will continue to publicize basic epidemic prevention rules, such as social distancing by phase and masking.
▲ Press conference on June 30
Governor Yang Seung-jo urged residents and visitors to continue to strictly wear masks and observe prevention rules because the rate of movement of people is rising amid the change of social distancing phase and summer vacation season.
chungnamdo@korea.kr)
