South Korea imposes new vaccine pass policy to encourage booster shots
오늘부터 '딩동' 소리 나면 식당 카페 입장 불가 From today, the authorities in South Korea are implementing a new policy on the vaccine passes that are currently required to enter restaurants and many other public places. The pass now expires six months after a person finishes their original vaccine regimen. To renew it will require a booster shot. And from next week, a vaccine pass will be needed to get into big grocery stores and department stores. Shin Ye-eun reports. South Korea on Monday reported 3-thousand 1-hundred 29 new COVID-19 infections. This was a dip of more than 1-thousand from last Monday. The number of critically ill patients also came down by 9...standing at 1-thousand-15. But the pandemic is still classed as being at the highest-level of risk nationwide. "Though we're seeing a downward trend in the number of new infections, the Omicron variant poses a major threat. That's why the government is considering preemptive medical and virus prevention measures." Another 1-hundred-11 Omicron cases were found on Monday... bringing the total tally above 13-hundred. The country also reported the first two deaths of patients who posthumously tested positive for the Omicron variant. Both were in their 90s, and tests to determine the exact cause of their deaths are ongoing. From this Monday, several new vaccine pass policies have also taken effect. An expiration date has been implemented... which means vaccine passes will only be valid for six months. In other words, after six months have passed since a person received their final jab... they will now need a booster shot in order to enter most public places. This includes those who were fully vaccinated before July. People can verify their vaccination status... when entering venues like restaurants and cafes,... using the COOV mobile app. The app shows the pass holders' vaccination status, including the number of days since their last jabs. After 180 days, the pass will expire and they will no longer be classed as fully vaccinated. Vaccine pass readers... will sound off a chime... if a person is not fully vaccinated or if their certificate has expired. To avoid any complications,... a one-week grace period has been granted. Toughened virus prevention measures have also been extended for another two weeks. This includes limiting social gatherings to four people nationwide and restricting business operation hours to 9 or 10 pm. But there has been a slight change in the operating hours for movie theaters and performance halls, allowing them to stay open until midnight as long as customers enter before 9 pm. All these restrictions are set to last until January 16th. Shin Ye-eun, Arirang News #COVID19 #vaccine_pass #booster_shot 📣 Arirang News(Facebook) : / arirangtvnews 📣 Arirang News(Twitter) : / arirangtvnews 📣 News Center(YouTube) : / newscenter_arirangtv 2022-01-03, 17:00 (KST)
