Suwon City Reopens Major Public Facilities After COVID-19 Suspension

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

The reopening of public facilities follows the 'Adjustment of Enhanced Quarantine Measures in the Capital Region' announced on July 19 by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, which has decided to allow the resumption of public facility operations on the condition of 'compliance with quarantine rules.'

All public facilities require visitors to wear masks, sanitize their hands, and undergo temperature checks before entry. Failure to follow administrator guidance will result in restricted facility access.

Suwon City's 172 outdoor public sports facilities opened on July 23, while 23 indoor sports facilities resume operations on July 24. Only Suwon residents can use these facilities.

Sports facilities will reopen in three stages. During Stage 1 (reopening phase), the number of users is limited to 50% compared to the same period last year. For new facilities, only 50% of maximum capacity is allowed.

During Stage 2 (stabilization phase), 75% compared to last year can use the facilities, and during Stage 3 (normalization phase), 100% compared to last year is permitted. The timing for Stage 2 will be determined by observing the COVID-19 situation. Stage 3 will be decided after the government announces 'normalization.'

Performance venues (4 facilities), exhibition and viewing facilities (4 facilities), and education and experience facilities (3 facilities) will conduct self-assessments of operational risks based on 'Gyeonggi Province Public Cultural Facility Operating Reopening Guidelines' and proceed with reopening from July 28 onwards if deemed appropriate.

Performance venues can accommodate up to 50% of their capacity, and audiences must sit in a zigzag pattern. Advance reservations are required.

Exhibition and viewing facilities will maintain up to 5 people in the exhibition space, and education and experience facilities can accommodate up to 50% of their capacity.

The 44 community centers in residential districts will resume program operations after recruiting students. The number of students is limited to one-third of classroom capacity, and a person in charge is designated for each program to monitor compliance with quarantine rules. Community center programs are only for Suwon residents.

Comprehensive social welfare centers (6 facilities), senior welfare centers (6 facilities), disability welfare centers (2 facilities), community centers for the elderly (180 facilities), day care facilities (14 facilities), and disability vocational rehabilitation facilities (4 facilities) began reopening from July 20. The number of users is limited to 50% or less of the maximum available capacity.

Program and service operations will be expanded in stages. Currently, Stage 1 operates only non-face-to-face services and small-scale services (10 people or fewer outdoors). During Stage 2, small-scale program operations will expand (10 people or fewer indoors and outdoors), and when the infectious disease alert level is downgraded from 'severe' to 'high' (Stage 3), normal operations (30 people or fewer indoors and outdoors) will be implemented.

Meanwhile, public libraries, museums, and art museums have been reopening with restrictions since July 7.

Libraries have resumed operations at 16 public libraries and 3 children's libraries (Sleepy Spring, Wisdom Spring, and Right Spring Children's Libraries), excluding North Suwon Library, which is undergoing remodeling. Seats operate at approximately 30%, and children's libraries operate only lending and returning services.

Suwon Museum, Suwon Gwanggyo Museum, Suwon Hwaseong Museum, and 'Open Cultural Space Huseo' can accommodate a maximum of 40 people at the same time, with a daily limit of 300 visitors.

Suwon City Art Park Museum and Suwon Art Exhibition Hall can accommodate 160 people (40 per session) across 4 sessions daily. The number of visitors per exhibition room is limited to 10 people. Advance reservations must be made through the website, and if reservations are insufficient, on-site applications are available. The number of visitors per exhibition room is limited to 10 people.

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