[ad_1]
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of billions of people around the world, but for Singaporean Lee Tzyy Ian, 29, everyday life in Seoul has been largely unaffected in recent months. .
Ms Lee, who lives in the South Korean capital with her husband, Sung Sang-Kyu, 43, and their daughter, SiEun, 3, could still go out to meet friends to eat and drink while having drinks. standard precautions, such as wearing a mask and making sure to wash your hands frequently.
But after a large cluster of Covid-19 emerged in a church near their home earlier this month, the homemaker and her daughter have stayed home.
“I stopped sending my girl to daycare for the time being,” Ms. Lee said.
“My husband still goes out to work as usual, but my daughter and I stay home because we don’t know who is infected.”
They order their groceries online and get food delivered to avoid going out.
Lee and his family are among Singaporeans in Seoul who are increasingly concerned about the worsening Covid-19 situation after months of relative calm.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 308 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total to 19,400, including 321 deaths, as of midnight Friday.
Tighter restrictions have been announced, such as restricting meal times and suspending indoor sports facilities.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said at least 80 percent of infections in the past week have come from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area and many are linked to the Sarang Jeil Church and a political rally on August 15. .
Ms Lee, who lives in a subway stop far from Sarang Jeil Church, said she was devastated that the outbreak situation has now returned to the starting point.
“My family members in Singapore have been asking me to be careful and to stay safe, as they know that it is not easy to fly back now, especially since I have a small child with me.”
Ms Chua Pei Chi, president of the informal Singapore Club Seoul, said she knows about 350 to 400 Singaporeans who still stay in the city.
He returned to Singapore last Wednesday to visit his parents and is now in quarantine at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
“I think the Singapore community is starting to realize that the situation is really getting bad and some of them have decided to delay their plans, just to be safe,” he said.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old student Jess Ng, who has been in South Korea for the past seven months, was due to take a Korean language proficiency test in Seoul last week, but the exam was canceled due to increased numbers. new cases of Covid-19. .
“My family has been asking me to fly back, but I initially extended my stay to take the exam. Right now, I am just monitoring the flight situation as two of my plane tickets have already been canceled,” he said.
Ms. Ng said that her life in Seoul has been normal. She is left alone and still goes out to eat.
But he has seen some people protest their right to worship in churches despite the pandemic. Recently, a Covid-19 patient escaped from the hospital and was in her neighborhood.
She added, “I don’t think I have understood that the situation is getting worse here in Seoul … as long as they don’t blockade the city, I’m fine I guess.”
Ken Ng, 50, who runs the Dessert Merlion Singapore Cafe in Hongdae in Seoul, said fewer people are going out and that the Covid-19 situation is getting worse.
“You don’t really feel the tension here because there are no hard and fast rules that say you will be fined if you don’t do this,” he added.
But his business is down about 50 percent. He hopes the city can avoid a closure so businesses are not further affected.
“As long as I can cover the rent and overhead, I’m already satisfied,” he said.
“Whatever happens, I will think of a way to survive. We have to be optimistic.”
[ad_2]
