ZCZC
BFF-19
SKOREA-HEALTH-VIRUS-RULES
S.Korea to raise social-distancing rules to 2nd-highest in capital area
SEOUL, Dec 6, 2020 (BSS/XINHUA) – South Korea decided Sunday to raise its social-distancing rules in the Seoul metropolitan area by one notch to the second-highest level for three weeks amid a COVID-19 resurgence for the past month.
The country’s five-tier social-distancing regulations will be lifted to Level 2.5 for the next three weeks in the capital area, which covers Seoul, its surrounding Gyeonggi province and the western port city of Incheon.
The distancing guidelines had been elevated to Level 2 for two weeks from Nov. 24 to Dec. 7, but the virus spread had yet to be contained in the metropolitan region. The guidelines were tightened from the lowest Level 1 to Level 1.5 on Nov. 19 in the capital area.
In the latest tally, South Korea reported 631 more cases of COVID-19 for the past 24 hours, raising the total number of infections to 37,546. The daily caseload was the highest in over nine months since March 2, rising in triple digits for 29 days since Nov. 8.
Of the new cases, 253 were Seoul residents and 176 were people residing in Gyeonggi province. Incheon added 41 more cases.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told the meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters that the country was faced with the biggest crisis in fighting against the COVID-19.
Chung said situations in the metropolitan area got very serious, citing the daily number of infections in the capital area reaching a new high of 470 and about 70 percent of new cases coming from the Seoul area for the past week.
The prime minister urged people to refrain from gatherings and meetings, and thoroughly follow basic quarantine rules, such as wearing masks and washing hands.
Under the Level 2.5 distancing, stricter restrictions will be imposed on the operation of high-risk facilities, while any gathering or event of more than 50 people will be banned.
In addition to five entertainment facilities, such as nightclubs, businesses will be stopped in four more risky facilities including karaoke bars, indoor theaters and door-to-door sales companies.
With the Level 2 distancing, indoor dining will not be allowed in coffee shops and cafes, and only takeaway and delivery to be permitted.
Restaurants will be allowed to serve food until 9:00 p.m., with delivery and takeout to be available afterward.
The so-called general facilities will have to stop operation after 9:00 p.m., facing a limited capacity, a certain distance away from each seat and the ban of eating food.
The general facilities include department stores and discount outlets of over 300 square meters, amusement parks, movie theaters, hair salons, internet cafes, study rooms and private cram schools.
Indoor sports facilities will be banned from running, while the maximum number of attendees in funeral homes and wedding halls will be restricted to 50.
Eating food will be prevented in public bathhouses and concert halls, where people will sit a certain distance away from each other.
Sports events should be held without spectators, while worship services in religious facilities will be allowed to fill up to 20 seats.
Public transports, which exclude airlines, will have to sell up to 50 percent of the combined tickets.
The attendance cap in schools will be placed at one-third of the total students, and companies will be recommended to encourage at least one-third of employees to work from home.
BSS/XINHUA/SSS/1429 hrs