Citizens Expected to Maintain Distance in Normal Life
The South Korean government has decided to ease its social distancing rules from May 6 as the COVID-19 crisis shows clear signs of subsiding.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo announced on Sunday that the government will end its weeks-long social distancing campaign and shift to a more relaxed "distancing in daily life" phase from May 6.
However, Park stressed the shift does not mean the end of the COVID-19 crisis, saying that citizens are still expected to maintain distance in normal life and never to return to pre-COVID-19 habits.
Under the plan, citizens will be allowed to hold gatherings and events under the condition that they follow quarantine guidelines.
The government will also allow public facilities, including national parks, indoor sports facilities, galleries and museums, to resume operations.
Meanwhile, the government will maintain its alert level on COVID-19 at the highest "red" for the time being, even after relaxing the social distancing guidelines.
Park said that the government and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still believe that it is necessary to watch the virus situation a little longer before lowering the alert level.