S. Korea eases curbs in first step towards 'living with Covid-19'

SEOUL • South Korea said it will drop all operating-hour curbs on restaurants and cafes and implement its first vaccine passport for high-risk venues such as gyms, saunas and bars, as it tries to "live with Covid-19".

The first phase will go into effect next Monday and last for a month, said officials, with plans calling for all restrictions to be scrapped by next February.

"Beginning on Monday, our community will take the first step of resuming our normal life," said Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum at a televised government meeting yesterday. "We must, however, be aware that this doesn't mean the fight against coronavirus is over, but a new beginning."

The push comes as South Korea grapples with high daily case numbers, though it remains far below many of the worst hit countries, and serious infections and deaths are low.

Last week, South Korea met its goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of its 52 million people, paving the way for the planned return to normality. It has now fully vaccinated about 72 per cent of the population, and has given at least one dose of a vaccine to more than 79.8 per cent.

While never under lockdown, South Korea has been battling a fourth wave of infections since July, when the government imposed tight gathering and social distancing restrictions.

Outdoor sports events are allowed to take up to 50 per cent of spectators, and up to 100 people can attend musicals or concerts regardless of vaccination status. Vaccinated people will be allowed to consume food and drinks inside movie theatres.

Visits to high-risk venues such as bars and nightclubs, indoor gyms, saunas and karaoke bars will require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result from within 48 hours.

South Korea has launched its own vaccine app that it says protects user privacy through blockchain technology.

While private gatherings with up to 10 people will be allowed nationwide regardless of vaccination status, restaurants and cafes will keep a cap of up to four unvaccinated people per group.

The authorities have said they will focus on hospitalisation and mortality rates rather than daily mitigation, and expand self-treatment for those with only mild Covid-19 symptoms.

The Korean Medical Association and experts have warned that the timing of the switch to the new strategy, amid a relatively high number of cases and as winter approaches, may fuel a rise in Covid-19 cases.

South Korea reported 2,124 new Covid-19 cases for Thursday, bringing its cumulative tally to 360,536 infections, with 2,817 deaths.

REUTERS