LEGISLATION PLANS OVER DISTANCING RULES

[Anchor Lead]

Following disease prevention rules is crucial in practicing routine distancing, but the rules are currently not legally binding. The government is therefore looking to make some changes by partial legislation.

[Pkg]

The five main rules of daily life quarantine. Maintain distance between people. Wash hands. Cough into sleeves. Ventilate and disinfect. The most important one is staying home for three or four days if you feel sick. A recent survey showed Koreans find the first rule to be the hardest to follow.

[Soundbite] PARK SANG-WOOK(OFFICE WORKER) : "I may not be the only one sick in the office. I don't think I can be the only one staying home."

Institutional means to preserve individual interests and government assistance to private companies are needed. The government is reviewing the legislation of some routine distancing rules, as legally binding power may be needed.

[Soundbite] KIM GANG-LIP(VICE MINISTER, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE) : "Since the issue requires discussions with employers and employees and additional opinion inputs, we are discussing the matter within the government first."

Also, compliance with disease prevention measures in high-risk facilities such as nursing hospitals may be mandated by law instead of leaving it up to facility operators. Such measures are deemed necessary as the battle against COVID-19 could continue longer than anticipated. Disease prevention authorities emphasized that routine distancing does not mean a return to normalcy, before the pandemic.

[Soundbite] JUNG EUN-KYEONG(DIRECTOR, KOREA CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION) : "I'm making it clear that routine distancing does not mean that we can lower our guard against COVID-19."

Although Korea is now in routine distancing mode, nothing has changed in the country's COVID-19 response measures such as self-isolation guidelines and mask purchase system. Seoul's top infectious disease expert also stressed that the country can return to strict social distancing measures any time if the situation worsens.