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SEOUL: South Korean police mobilized hundreds of buses to stop any political demonstration in the capital Seoul on Saturday (October 3) with authorities determined to prevent another cluster of COVID-19 cases from emerging from a protest.
South Korea has presented itself as a success story in mitigating the coronavirus, but saw an outbreak of more than 1,800 infections linked to a church and a large anti-government rally in August.
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South Korean police stand guard near Gwanghwamun Square to prevent unexpected anti-government protests amid the COVID-19 pandemic in central Seoul, South Korea, on October 3, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Heo Ran) .
The spread of the virus has slowed in recent weeks, but the government has banned more than 100 demonstrations planned for Saturday’s National Foundation Day, warning of strict punishment for any illegal protests.
South Korean police stand guard near police buses, parked around Gwanghwamun Square, to prevent unexpected anti-government protests amid the COVID-19 pandemic in central Seoul, South Korea, on October 3, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Heo Ran).
Police buses are parked around Gwanghwamun Square to prevent unexpected anti-government protests amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in central Seoul, South Korea, on October 3, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Heo Ran).
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Police parked buses along major avenues and around a central square in Seoul to seal them. They also set up around 90 checkpoints to prevent vehicles from carrying protesters while the subway did not stop at various stations at the protest sites.
The Korea Disease Prevention and Control Agency (KDCA) reported 75 new infections by midnight Friday, a third day of double-digit increases, bringing the national count to 24,027 cases, with 420 deaths.
Pedestrians pass police buses that are parked around Gwanghwamun Square to avoid unexpected anti-government protests amid the COVID-19 pandemic in central Seoul, South Korea, on October 3, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Heo Ran).
The government had relaxed some social distancing rules after new cases dropped, but imposed special measures for the Korean Chuseok harvest festival, which began on Wednesday.
The rules include banning meals in freeway rest areas and visiting nursing homes and requiring temperature controls in all stations.
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