South Koreans Proceed With Election Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
South Korean voters today turned out in force to cast their ballots in a parliamentary election despite the coronavirus threat.
During the process, they were putting on compulsory face masks and gloves. South Korea is among the first countries with a major outbreak of the novel virus that emanated from China. As they hold a national vote, there was a raft of safety measures was in place around.
The parliamentary election is widely expected to bolster the ruling Democratic party’s position. The poll began with 43.9 million voters eligible to cast ballots.
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While casting their votes, the electorates in obligatory masks lined up at least one meter (three feet) apart outside polling stations and had their temperatures checked before being allowed in.
All had to clean their hands with sanitizer and don plastic gloves, while those with fevers cast their ballots in separate booths that were disinfected after each use.
“It is done very well,” said 80-year-old voter Kim Gwang-woo.
“Because of the coronavirus, people are keeping their distance and everyone is wearing gloves.”
South Korea was able to fight the virus as it was at a time the country with the second-largest outbreak. The success was recorded through widespread testing and a contact-tracing drive, along with widely observed social distancing.
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According to the guideline, those in self-isolation in their homes will be allowed to vote immediately after the polls close at 6:00 pm (0900 GMT), as long as they do not show virus symptoms, and must return to their residences by 7:00 pm.
Special polling stations were set up at eight central quarantine facilities at the weekend to enable the confined to vote as well while the ones staying at home with developed symptoms are effectively disenfranchised.
