A street in Myeongdong, one of the busiest shopping districts in Seoul, is nearly empty, Monday, as people stay home to avoid infection by COVID-19. Gatherings of more than four people will be banned in the greater Seoul area as a stricter social distancing measure starting Wednesday. Yonhap |
By Bahk Eun-ji
Gatherings of five people or more will be banned in the greater Seoul area in an effort to curb the ongoing spread of COVID-19 which has been showing no signs of abating.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and neighboring local governments in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, Monday, the stricter social distancing measure will take effect from Wednesday and last until to Jan. 3, the period when many Christmas and year-end gatherings and events are expected to take place.
The ban on gatherings of more than four people is a stronger measure than restrictions that could be applied under the highest Level 3 social distancing, in which gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited.
Since Dec. 8, Level 2.5 has been implemented in the greater Seoul area, which is the second-highest in the nation's five-tier social distancing system. Level 2.5 bans gatherings of 50 or more people.
"The ban on private gatherings of five people or more is definitely a harsh measure for citizens. But we can't curb the current increasing trend of the coronavirus without taking such a measure to stop transmissions between family members, acquaintances and colleagues," acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup said in an emergency press briefing at City Hall.
"We have to do everything we can do so that we don't reach the final stage of Level 3 where our economy and daily life will be damaged. We ask all citizens to have more patience and abide by the stricter distancing rule," Seo said.
Under the new measure, all social gatherings such as alumni meetings, hobby clubs, picnics, year-end parties, work dinners and workshops, as well as family gatherings, housewarmings, baby's first-birthday parties, and older people's 60th and 70th birthday parties, are also prohibited.
The only exceptions are weddings and funerals, where up to 50 people will be allowed to participate.
If violations occur, fines will be imposed on both the owners and users of the establishments involved, and the owners will also face administrative measures such as a suspension of operations.
"Seoul's situation is like the calm before the storm. If we can't curb the exploding increase, scenes such as those in New York and London, where streets are empty and cities are locked down, will be seen in Seoul," Seo said.
The unprecedented administrative order has been adopted as year-end gatherings, events and travel are expected to increase nationwide despite the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), there were 926 new infections for Sunday, including 892 local cases, raising the total caseload to 50,591.
This was the first time in six days that the country's daily new virus cases fell below 1,000, but the health authorities said this was mainly due to less testing over the weekend. Korea reported more than 1,000 daily new cases for five consecutive days over the past week.
Among the locally transmitted cases, 327 were reported in Seoul, 237 in Gyeonggi Province and 85 in Incheon, west of Seoul. The capital area accounts for about 70 percent of the national daily caseload. The daily virus death toll hit a record high amid rising patients with an additional 24, raising the total to 698.