Korea extends distancing rules but eases some measures

The government announced that it would extend the current social distancing scheme implemented nationwide until Oct. 3, but ease the some measures after facing fierce backlash from small-business owners.

From next week, private gatherings of up to six people, including four people who have completed vaccination, will be able to gather after 6 p.m. in the Level 4 areas. For Level 3 areas, the government said they would allow gatherings of up to eight people.

Also, in consideration of the damage to the economy of the working class, such as the self-employed and small business owners, the government said they would expand business hours of restaurants and cafes in the Level 4 areas from the current 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. However, the government will continue to only allow take-outs and deliveries after 10 p.m. for restaurants and cafes. In addition, eating and drinking will also be prohibited at convenience stores after 10 p.m.

Local governments should not adjust the standards f at private meetings and the business hours for multi-use facilities for regions implementing Level 4, it said

For weddings, the government decided to allow 99 people per individual wedding only if the wedding provides no meals. However, for weddings that plan to provide meals, health authorities will maintain the current limit of 49 people. Also, during the Chuseok holiday, it will allow family gatherings of up to eight in Level 4 regions and enable visits to nursing hospitals and facilities.

The application period will be for one week from the Sep. 17 to 23.

However, the government will allow exceptions when care workers such as family members living together, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities perform care activities or gather for funerals.

"I believe that many people will move during the holidays, but we ask citizens to refrain from traveling, especially if their parents have not completed vaccinations," Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-chul said.

Health officials explained that they have decided on the eased measures while maintaining the Level 4 distancing rules as it is difficult to completely ease quarantine by the end of this month, given the large and non-decreasing scale of the Covid-19 outbreak.

However, they stressed that the nation is close to giving the first shot of the vaccine to 70 percent of the population and decided to push for a limited easing of quarantine rules in consideration of fatigue caused by the prolonged distancing scheme.

Train operators will be only allowed to sell window seats over the holiday.

"We have decided to adjust social distancing guidelines to maintain both antivirus efforts and the economy," Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said during a daily briefing. "We plan to announce social distancing rules that can further normalize everyday lives in October."

Before the effect of the inoculation program kicks in, the nation needs to maintain social distancing and follow antivirus rules to curb further infections, Kwon added.

Korea has vaccinated 29,644,464 people – 11,061,771 with the AstraZeneca vaccine, 14,951,332 with Pfizer's vaccine, 2,391,099 with Moderna's vaccine, 1,240,262 with Janssen's vaccine– with the first shot of the vaccine up 185,574 from the previous day.

The country plans to provide at least one jab to 70 percent of the population by September to create herd immunity in November.

However, the nation's inoculation program has recently faced some challenges due to a delay in Vaccine supplies.

Despite concerns, health authorities said they expect to reach the target on time as an additional batch of 905,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine will arrive on Friday.

On Friday, the KDCA confirmed 1,709 new virus cases, including 1,675 local infections, raising the total caseload to 257,110. In addition, the country saw five more death from the virus, increasing total cases to 2,308 with a fatality rate of 0.9 percent.