Suwon City Urges "Active Participation in Enhanced Social Distancing"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young urged citizens to "actively participate in the government's 'Seoul metropolitan area social distancing' to be implemented from midnight on the 19th."

In a post on his personal SNS on the 19th, Mayor Yeom stated, "The core of this strengthened quarantine guideline is 'not gathering,'" and urged, "If it is not essential, please refrain from gathering with multiple people, especially indoors."

He added, "I am well aware of how inconvenient this strengthened quarantine guideline will be to citizens' daily lives and how much damage it will inflict on our economy," and said, "However, if we cannot overcome this critical moment, we may face a price several times greater than the current situation."

The government will implement "Strengthened Social Distancing Level 2" across the Seoul metropolitan area from midnight on the 19th.

According to the guidelines, gatherings, meetings, and events with 50 or more people indoors or 100 or more people outdoors are banned, and the operation of public indoor multi-use facilities run by local governments, educational offices, and affiliated institutions will be suspended.

Operations of 12 high-risk facilities (excluding distribution and logistics centers) will also be suspended: ▲Noraebang (singing rooms) ▲Entertainment establishments (clubs, room salons, etc.) ▲Coretech (dance clubs) ▲Casual bars ▲Trendy bars ▲Hunting pocha (outdoor tents) ▲Indoor standing concert halls ▲Indoor group exercises (Zumba, Tae-bo, spinning, etc.) ▲Direct sales promotion halls (door-to-door sales, etc.) ▲Large academies (300 or more people) ▲Buffets ▲PC rooms

Protestant churches in the Seoul metropolitan area are prohibited from all in-person activities including meetings, events, and dining, except for non-contact (online) worship.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province issued an administrative order on the 18th mandating mask-wearing for all residents and visitors throughout the province. Gyeonggi residents and visitors must wear masks both indoors and outdoors until there is a separate cancellation measure.

Failure to comply with personal quarantine rules may result in a fine of up to 3 million won or a penalty of up to 100,000 won under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act. Additionally, if infection spreads due to violations of quarantine rules, the province plans to request reimbursement for related costs including testing and treatment.

First Vice Mayor Jo Cheong-sik of Suwon stated at the "COVID-19 Response Progress Report Meeting" held at the City Hall Disaster and Safety Situation Room on the 19th, "To prevent the spread of COVID-19, during the implementation of 'Strengthened Social Distancing Level 2,' we must exercise restraint at the level of 'stopping daily life,'" and emphasized, "Against violations of guidelines, administrative power must be exercised firmly and strongly."