Table 1.

Social distancing to prevent COVID-19 in Korea.

Social distancing levels		Social distancing	“Stronger” social distancing	Extending stronger social distancing	“Relaxed way” of social distancing
Period		2020.02.29–2020.03.21 (alert level “Red”, 2020.02.23)	2020.03.22–2020.04.05	2020.04.06–2020.04.19	2020.04.20–2020.05.05
Government action	General	-Importance of personal hygiene practice and social distancing	-Prevention of further spreading to communities	-Prevention of further spreading to communities	-Maintain social tension in relaxed way of social distancing
	Public facilities⁎	n.a.	-Stop the operation	-Stop the operation	-Outdoor and dispersed facilities: gradually “reopen” under quarantine rules -Outdoor and densely populated facilities: “resumed” under being dispersed
Facilities susceptible to cluster infection†	n.a.	-Halt the operation	-Halt the operation	-Religious, indoor sports, and entertainment facilities were adjusted from halting operation to “refraining”
Public transportation	n.a.	-Separately assign seats between passengers to keep a certain distance	-Separately assign seats between passengers to keep a certain distance	n.a.
Guideline for public	Personal hygiene	-Wash your hands thoroughly with soap under running water -Cover up your mouth and nose with elbow when sneezing/coughing	-Wash your hands thoroughly with soap under running water -Cover up your mouth and nose with elbow when sneezing/coughing	-Wash your hands thoroughly with soap under running water -Cover up your mouth and nose with elbow when sneezing/coughing	-Wash your hands thoroughly with soap under running water -Cover up your mouth and nose with elbow when sneezing/coughing
	Crowded place	-Avoid visiting	-“Delay or cancel” nonessential gathering, travel, etc. -Refrain from going out except for buying necessities, visiting a doctor, and commuting to/from work -Keep a 2-meter distance	-“Delay or cancel” nonessential gathering, travel, etc. -Refrain from going out except for buying necessities, visiting a doctor, and commuting to/from work -Keep a 2-meter distance	-“Delay or cancel” nonessential gathering, travel, etc. -Refrain from going out except for buying necessities, visiting a doctor, and commuting to/from work -Keep a 2-meter distance

^⁎Public facilities including libraries, swimming pools, museums, national park, etc.

^†Facilities susceptible to cluster infection including religious, indoor sports, entertainment facilities, etc.