South Korea’s Covid Case Tally Below 500, Toughened Social Distancing To Be Implemented

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country recorded 450 new infections on Sunday while 438 more were reported this Monday. Thus, bringing the current total caseload to 34,201. Meanwhile, there were four additional fatalities recorded since Sunday, bringing the total to 526. 

The latest figures are down from 581 on Thursday, 555 on Friday, and 503 on Saturday. Such a decrease, however,  was due to the fewer tests carried out over the weekend. 

Amid deepening worries over the third infection wave, the government has decided to toughen social distancing regulations starting December 1. 

According to health authorities, sauna and indoor sports facilities will be shut down in Seoul and surrounding areas. In addition, community facilities at apartments, such as gyms, will be shut down. Group exercise programs such as Zumba, spinning, kickboxing, and aerobics will also be prohibited.

Furthermore, health authorities have banned wind instruments and singing lessons at private institutions and community centers, considering that there is a high risk of viruses being transmitted through droplets during lessons.

The new regulations also ban hotels, guest houses, party rooms, and other places where people can have private parties from offering such party venues for the year-end season.

Meanwhile, since the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is scheduled this December 3, teaching for test-takers preparing for exams will be excluded from the ban.

Despite these new regulations, however, the government decided not to raise the social distancing level in the area to 2.5 from the current 2. Other parts of the country will have their levels raised to 1.5, and each municipality can raise its own to 2 if necessary.

"We are maintaining Level 2 (in the greater Seoul area) but applying stricter rules for specific facilities, such as sauna and group exercise places," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at a press briefing at the Seoul Government Complex on Sunday. 

Health authorities announced that the new rules will be applied from Tuesday to Saturday in the Seoul metropolitan area, and until Dec. 14 in other provinces. Such implementation may be prolonged or be ended early according to how the situation develops.