서울시 지하철 방역 강화...혼잡 시 마스크 착용 의무화<br /><br />Seoul Metropolitan government has decided to take stronger countermeasures against COVID-19,... this time on public transport.<br />All passengers now have to wear face masks on crowded subways.<br />Our Kim Sung-min tells us more. Seoul resident Hwang Hyeok takes the subway every day, but ever since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, he has been worried about people not wearing masks.<br />"I take the subway every day and when I see people who are not wearing masks, it makes me worried and frustrated."<br />But starting from Wednesday, people must wear masks on crowded subway trains in the capital.<br />This comes as Seoul Metropolitan Government has expanded its "distancing in daily life" measures to include the use of public transport.<br />"We are trying our best to keep the subway environment safe... such as by disinfecting trains more than 4 times a day. So as long as citizens follow this new measure of wearing masks, I believe it will be safe to take the subway."<br />When carriages are classed as "congested", people will be asked to put on masks, and further boarding will be restricted.<br />This level of congestion is when carriages reach over 150 percent of their recommended quota, based on the weight of 160 people in a carriage.<br />Sensors in the carriages can detect this weight and show current congestion levels.<br />For those who have forgotten to bring a mask from home, stations have placed vending machines that sell masks at street price.<br />"I totally support the change. I feel more relieved that people now have to wear masks on the subway. I also carry around extra masks just in case I forget to bring one."<br />Seoul Metro is also planning to provide passengers with daily congestion forecasts for the following day on its website and social media like Twitter at 6 PM.<br />For the busiest lines including lines 2, 4 and 6..., extra trains will run during rush hour.<br />Kim Sung-min, Arirang News<br />
