Main points:
Lifting of limits on private gathering size, business hours, and assembly and religious facility capacity
Masks to remain as is, to be reviewed in 2 weeks... Food and drink allowed at cinemas from the 25th
COVID-19 disease classification to be adjusted to Grade 2 from the 25th... "Isolation obligation → recommendation"

Social distancing due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will be fully lifted starting from the 18th.

This is the first time in 2 years and 1 month since distancing was introduced in March 2020.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced this decision on the same day at a COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Complex Seoul.

Prime Minister Kim said, "We will fully lift the business hour restrictions for multi-use facilities until midnight and the private gathering size limit of up to 10 people starting next Monday (the 18th)."

He added, "The limits on events and assemblies, which allowed up to 299 people, and religious facilities, which allowed up to 70% of their capacity, will also be lifted simultaneously."

Prime Minister Kim also announced, "The ban on eating and drinking in indoor multi-use facilities such as cinemas, indoor sports facilities, and religious facilities will also be lifted from April 25th."

However, the mask-wearing mandate will be maintained as is.

Prime Minister Kim stated, "Wearing masks indoors is unavoidable for a considerable period," adding, "We will decide on wearing masks outdoors, which carries relatively low risk, after evaluating the epidemic situation in two weeks."

Furthermore, the government has decided to adjust the COVID-19 disease classification from Grade 1 to Grade 2 starting from the 25th.

Prime Minister Kim explained, "Once the grade is fully adjusted, the isolation obligation will change to a recommendation, and there will be many changes, such as the end of home treatment," adding, "Instead, to minimize confusion, we will proceed in stages with a four-week implementation period."

Article Source: © yonhapnews

These are English translations of articles from our GTTOUR Japanese website.