South Korea mulls stricter distancing while COVID-19 takes 'a good very dangerous turn'
16 November, 2020
South Korea reported a lot more than 200 new coronavirus situations for the 3rd consecutive day on Mon (Nov 16), due to the federal government mulls tightening public distancing to curb persistent outbreaks from offices, medical facilities and small gatherings.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) posted 223 cases by midnight on Sunday, marking the ninth straight evening of triple-digit increases and the highest since early September.
Wellness authorities warned of re-strengthening distancing curbs that have been relaxed in regards to a month ago to the lowest levels, as compact cluster infections continue steadily to break out as the pandemic is raging around the globe.
Tighter curbs would ban consumer gatherings of 100 persons or more, limit religious products and services and audiences at sports to 30 % of ability, and require high-risk facilities including clubs and karaoke bars to widen distance among guests.
"We happen to be at a crucial crossroads where we would have to readjust distancing," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo informed a meeting.
"The current situation is taking a very dangerous change considering the rising infections from daily lives and the unrelenting pace of the spread."
Of the new cases, 193 were locally transmitted and 30 imported, according to the KDCA. A lot more than 66 % of the domestic infections had been from the densely populated increased Seoul place, where outbreaks continue to emerge from assisted living facilities, medical facilities and small businesses.
The daily tally brought the country's total infections to 28,769, with 494 deaths.
The defence ministry held a gathering of senior commanders, notched up distancing for troops and officers for another fourteen days, and cut travel and entertainment events, after more than two dozen cases have been recently associated with a military welfare support facility and an air force unit.
The federal government also designated a particular anti-virus period before an annual national university entrance exam on Dec 3, to make sure all students including COVID-19 patients may take it.
Starting on Thursday, authorities will execute stricter hygiene inspections upon private academies and review cafes, while instructing in-person classes to be minimised from one week before the test.
President Moon Jae-found in urged authorities and local governments on Saturday to intensify supervision of safety precautions, a evening after revised guidelines took effect to allow fining people who neglect to wear masks in public areas.
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