Suwon City to Reopen Major Public Facilities Suspended Due to COVID-19

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 23rd that it will reopen major public facilities that had been closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The reopening of public facilities follows the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' announcement on the 19th of "adjustment of enhanced quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area." The headquarters decided to permit the resumption of public facility operations on the premise of "compliance with quarantine rules."

All public facilities require visitors to wear masks, sanitize their hands, and undergo temperature screening before entry. Those who do not follow management guidance will be restricted from using the facilities.

Suwon City's 172 outdoor public sports facilities opened on the 23rd, while 23 indoor sports facilities will resume operations on the 24th. Only Suwon residents are eligible to use them.

Sports facilities will reopen in three phases. During Phase 1 (operation resumption stage), the number of users will be limited to 50% compared to the same period of the previous year. For new facilities, only 50% of maximum capacity is allowed to enter.

During Phase 2 (stabilization stage), 75% compared to the previous year can use the facilities, and during Phase 3 (normalization stage), 100% compared to the previous year can use them. The timing for Phase 2 will be determined based on trends in COVID-19 subsiding. Phase 3 will be decided after the government announces "normalization."

Performance venues (4 locations), exhibition and viewing facilities (4 locations), and educational and experiential facilities (3 locations) will self-evaluate the operational risks based on the "Gyeonggi Province Public Cultural Facilities Operation Resumption Guidelines" and, if deemed appropriate, will proceed with reopening from July 28th onwards.

Performance venues can admit up to 50% of capacity, and audiences must sit in a zigzag pattern with distance between them. Operations will be conducted by advance reservation.

Exhibition and viewing facilities will maintain entry to exhibition spaces at 5 people or fewer, and educational and experiential facilities can admit 50% or less of capacity.

Resident autonomous centers in 44 buildings will resume program operations after recruiting students. Student capacity will be limited to one-third of classroom capacity, and program-specific managers will be designated to monitor compliance with quarantine rules. Resident autonomous center programs are limited to Suwon residents.

Comprehensive social welfare centers (6 locations), senior welfare centers (6 locations), disability welfare centers (2 locations), senior community centers (180 locations), daytime care facilities (14 locations), and disability vocational rehabilitation facilities (4 locations) are proceeding with reopening from July 20th. Capacity will be limited to 50% or less of maximum occupancy.

Program and service operations are planned to expand in phases. Currently, in Phase 1, only non-face-to-face services and small-scale services (10 people or fewer outdoors) are operating. During Phase 2, small-scale program operations will expand (10 people or fewer indoors and outdoors), and when the infectious disease crisis alert level is downgraded from "critical" to "caution" (Phase 3), normal operations will resume (up to 30 people indoors and outdoors).

Meanwhile, public libraries, museums, and art galleries have been operating with restrictions since the 7th.

Libraries resumed operations at 16 public libraries and 3 children's libraries (Seulgi Sam, Jihye Sam, and Baren Sam Children's Libraries), excluding North Suwon Library which is undergoing remodeling. Only about 30% of seats are in operation, and children's libraries are operating only lending and return services.

Suwon Museum, Suwon Gwanggyo Museum, Suwon Hwaseong Museum, and "Open Cultural Space Huso" can admit a maximum of 40 people at the same time, with a daily total of 300 visitors. Suwon City Museum of Art and Suwon Art Exhibition Hall can accommodate 160 people (40 people per session) across four sessions per day. Viewing capacity per exhibition room is limited to 10 people. Online advance reservations are required through the homepage, and if the number of reservations falls short, on-site application for viewing is available. Viewing capacity per exhibition room is limited to 10 people.

A city official stated, "Since COVID-19 has not yet subsided, citizens using public facilities must strictly comply with quarantine rules and follow management guidance," and added, "We will conduct thorough quarantine measures so that citizens can safely use public facilities."