Asia Today: S. Korea starts fining people not wearing masks

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Updated: November 12, 2020 07:40 PM
Created: November 12, 2020 07:30 PM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea has reported its biggest daily jump in COVID-19 cases in 70 days as the government began fining people who fail to wear masks in public.

The 191 cases added to the country's caseload Friday represented the sixth consecutive day of over 100 and the highest daily increase since Sept. 4 when authorities reported 198 new infections.

More than 120 of the cases were from the Seoul metropolitan area, where the coronavirus has spread in a variety of places, including hospitals, nursing homes, churches, schools, restaurants and offices.

The steady spread of the virus has alarmed government officials, who eased social distancing measures to the lowest level since October to soften the pandemic's shock on the economy.

Read more: https://www.kob.com/business-news/asia-today-s-korea-starts-fining-people-not-wearing-masks/5923310/?cat=602

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. It makes sense.

We fine people for speeding even though they may not kill anyone by doing so. I would be ok with fines being applied to non mask wearers in public. JMO

[Warpy]

3. We've had a $100 fine since June in NM

but it hasn't been applied all that much unless it's a belligerent jerk ranting about his freedumb.

[Grokenstein]

2. If Korea Had Trumpkins:

"I've had it with this tyranny! I'm crossing over into Kim Jong-un's Freedomland! So long, suckers!!"

[NYC Liberal]

4. So many idiots here not wearing them on the SUBWAY of all places.

They need to be fined. Good for SK.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. As long as the virus is circulating "in the community"

it will try to find one host to to land in and start replicating again.

I know back in school, we had been taught that viruses are small enough to cannibalize bacteria to use as a vessel for replication. I am hoping this thing doesn't adapt to do that, although being able to decode its communications with others of its kind when in vivo, might help with disrupting it.

[Bayard]

6. Once again

How are they enforcing it? Do they arrest the person? Do the mask police demand their ID to send them the fine notice?

I've been saying its a good idea for awhile, but nobody enforces mask wearing around here, even with a state-wide mandate. I used to complain to a manager on my rare outings, but it did nothing.