Fans return to South Korean ballparks as COVID restrictions ease

South Korean baseball games reopened to fans starting from Sunday as health authorities outlined a phased process to bring back spectators in professional sports amid the COVID-19 epidemic. Both baseball and soccer teams are now allowed to sell only 10% of the seats for each game as officials plan to control the level of attendance based on the progress of anti-virus efforts.

Following the guidelines, fans were screened for fevers upon entering the stadium and required to sit apart in the seats in a baseball match between LG Twins and Doosan Bears in Seoul on Sunday. They were also required to wear masks, banned from eating food and drinking beer, and discouraged from excessive shouting, singing and cheering during the game.

Stadium officials also registered fans with smartphone QR codes so that they could be easily located when needed.South Korea's baseball and soccer leagues returned to action in May without fans in the stands. Seats had been covered with cheering banners, dolls or pictures of fans as teams tried to mimic a festive atmosphere.

(Image Credit: AP)