South Korea has been brought back with closed measures as it fights a new outbreak of coronavirus.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo announced new ban on large gatherings, with closures for beaches, night pots and churches, as well as removing fans from professional sporting events.
The government said the decision was not taken lightly, but felt the restrictions were necessary after nine straight days of three-digit increase in infections.
Korea hit its peak of new infections in March, when there were up to 600 new cases a day. On Saturday, the government registered 332 cases.
Public officials disinfect pews as a precaution against the coronavirus at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, August 21, 2020. South Korea’s control and prevention centers on Friday announced new infections from virtually all major cities nationwide, including Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon, Sejong and Daegu, a southeastern city that was the epicenter of a massive eruption in February and March. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon)
“We are now in a very dangerous situation that could trigger a massive nationwide spread of COVID-19,” Park said.
CONSERVATIVE CHURCH CLAUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH KOREA IS RESPONDING THAT CORRECTED MEMBERS OF CORONAVIRUS SPREAD
Most of the cases appear to have originated in the capital Seoul, but infections have been reported in most major cities and towns. The new measures will take effect Sunday, with local governments being given flexibility on how best to enforce the rules.
Director of Korea Centers for Disease Control Jeong Eun-kyeong urged the country to impose “level 3” restrictions – effectively an almost total lockdown, with limits on meetings for no more than 10 people, school trips and a full return to work from home for all businesses.
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Yoon Taeho, an official official of the Ministry of Public Health, said the government will check the effect of the current restrictions before deciding whether to take more drastic action.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
