Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neunghoo on Sept. 13 holds a regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at Government Complex-Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae

The social distancing status of Level 2.5, which had been in effect for the past two weeks, was eased on Sept. 14 at midnight to Level 2, meaning restaurants, coffee shop chains and private education institutes with under 300 students are allowed to resume regular operations.

Health and Welfare Minister Park Neunghoo, concurrently first vice chairman of the headquarters, told a briefing on Sept. 13 at Government Complex-Seoul, "The easing of the social distancing status to Level 2 in the Seoul metropolitan area will be extended to Sept. 27, but we decided to add stricter measures to strengthen quarantine at high-risk facilities."

The number of confirmed patients has gradually declined since Level 2.5 took effect in the capital region. The lowering of the level to 2 came in consideration of the major damage expected to small business owners and the working class if 2.5 were maintained.

With the mitigation of the level, restaurants and bakeries can resume normal operations instead of being limited to takeout or delivery. Yet tables there must stay 2 m apart and the use of partitions separating tables and individual plates is advised.

Cafe franchises, which also had been limited to takeout and delivery, can resume dine-in service but must leave every other seat unoccupied and limit the number of dine-in customers.

Private education institutes, libraries, study cafes, job training centers, and indoor sports and athletic facilities in the Seoul area can resume operations. People using such a venue must sign the registration book there, wear masks and follow basic quarantine measures such as social distancing.

In addition, Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 spanning the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and Hangeul Day holidays was designated a special quarantine period subject to temporary and stronger anti-pandemic measures.