| On the afternoon of the 14th, at a large mart in Seoul, customers check their quarantine passes before entering. 2022.1.14/News 1 © News1 Reporter Park Se-yeon |
On the morning of the 16th, the first Sunday after the quarantine pass (inoculation certificate/voice confirmation system) of stores, marts and department stores in Seoul was suspended, citizens who visited downtown department stores and marts generally expressed their welcome regardless of whether they were vaccinated.
Around 12 noon on that day, Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. There are QR code devices, thermometers, and hand sanitizers at the entrance, but the staff did not inspect the quarantine pass separately, only guiding them to ‘verify the QR code or give us a safe call.’
The employee who was guiding the quarantine pass disappeared at E-Mart Yangjae branch as well. QR code verification and handwritten notes were placed on the desk, and people entered the mart one by one by taking pictures.
The situation at Yongsan I’Park Mall was similar. I’Park Mall has reduced its workforce, which had nearly doubled during the quarantine pass implementation period, and reopened some of its doors. “After the quarantine pass was stopped, all those who were not vaccinated were sent in,” said an employee who was guiding the QR code and safety call in front of the front door. .
Citizens who met at department stores and marts that day showed a happy reaction to the news that even those who were not vaccinated could use it without restrictions.
Kim (27), a pregnant woman who visited the Galleria department store to buy a Lunar New Year gift, said, “I was not vaccinated because the effect on the fetus was not properly verified, so I tried not to get vaccinated. “He said.
He said, “I don’t think it’s voluntary, but I don’t think it’s absurd to force it,” he said. He said, “If you don’t have a quarantine pass, the only way is to get a PCR test, but you don’t know how difficult it is to go to the testing center while pregnant,” he said.
Ha-eun Kim (30), an office worker who just finished the first vaccination for health reasons, said, “I stopped by the department store food section in the morning after I was shopping online and the quarantine pass was released. It was really sad.”
Kim Mu-yeol (27), who came to Seoul with the family of an unvaccinated person living in a rural area, said, “I’ve been vaccinated, but I think it was a good decision to suspend the quarantine pass. I don’t understand,” he said. He pointed out, “Places that sell groceries like supermarkets are directly related to basic rights, but it is wrong to restrict the lives of people who cannot get vaccines for certain reasons.”
He continued, “Even when the U.S. shut down, they said they never blocked supermarkets, but I think the quarantine pass was an unreasonable number.” He said, “I want the quarantine pass to be implemented only where it is absolutely necessary, focusing on facilities with a high risk of infection, although it is not related to essential life.” .
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| On the afternoon of the 16th, the entrance of a department store in Daegu city is congested as users check the quarantine pass. 2022.1.16/News 1 © News1 Reporter Gong-sik Jeong |
There were many opinions that the decision to suspend the quarantine pass limited to Seoul should be expanded to the whole country.
Mo Yoon (32), an unvaccinated person who was waiting for a friend at the I’Park Mall, said, “I didn’t get the vaccine because I was afraid to see my sister suffered irregular bleeding after the second vaccination. “I think it should be stopped across the country,” he said.
On the other hand, there were many opinions in favor of the quarantine pass. Citizen A in his mid-60s, who was looking at hats at the E-Mart Yongsan branch, said, “Corona 19 is a serious situation, shouldn’t we get a vaccine first?”
Shin Mo (60), a housewife who was shopping, said, “My daughter tried not to get the vaccine, so I persuaded her for several months, and eventually decided to get it tomorrow. It should be right, but I don’t know why the quarantine pass is a problem.”
Department stores and marts repeatedly promised to observe social distancing regardless of the decision to suspend the quarantine pass.
An I’Park Mall official said, “We nearly doubled the number of people during the quarantine pass and reduced the number of gates, but they all withdrawn after the suspension of the quarantine pass was decided.”
An official from Galleria Department Store also said, “Unlike marts, department stores tend not to come if they don’t get a vaccine, so the suspension of the quarantine pass doesn’t really change anything. “He said.
The court ruled on the application of the quarantine pass for youth on the 14th, saying, “In the age group of 12 to 18, the severity of COVID-19 is remarkably low and there are no deaths. stopped
The youth expressed their welcome. “I paid for a study cafe for 100 hours last month, but I never used it and got a refund,” said Lee, a teenage student. said.
angela0204@news1.kr
