South Korea warns of tougher COVID-19 restrictions if rules ignored
15 December, 2020
South Korea's primary minister pleaded with residents on Tuesday (Dec 15) to follow social distancing rules to avoid even greater restrictions in the face of the country's largest wave of coronavirus infections.
Daily infection rates are hovering at record levels with another 880 latest cases reported by midnight Monday, up from 718 a day earlier, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said.
Schools in the Seoul metropolitan area closed for per month from Tuesday due to the government moves closer to imposing the toughest Level 3 restrictions, which would essentially mean a good lockdown of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
Businesses could allow only imperative workers in offices and gatherings of more than 10 people would be banned under such a good lockdown.
"While most residents bear the inconvenience to adhere to the rules, some will be adding fuel to the ferocious spread of the virus with their carelessness and irresponsibility," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun explained found in televised remarks at a government meeting.
"Taking into consideration the weight and affect of Level 3 distancing, we first need to level-headedly look again at whether most of us are actually properly implementing the existing level."
The government is reluctant to impose Level 3 restrictions due to the "irrevocable pain" it could cause, Chung added.
Wellness authorities have blamed persistent violations of distancing guidelines for worsening a number of the latest outbreaks, including churches breaching a ban on in-person offerings and businesses continuing nightly procedures, despite guidelines banning in-person program after 9pm.
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