S.Korea extends social distancing curbs as COVID-19 cases rise in Seoul

SK Bioscience Co

01/10/2021 06:20

By Hyonhee Shin
    SEOUL, Oct 1 (Reuters) - South Korea extended social
distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday
for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get
vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day,
particularly in the capital.
    The rapid resurgence in the greater Seoul area prompted
authorities to extend distancing restrictions https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-reports-1100-new-coronavirus-cases-toughest-curbs-force-seoul-2021-07-12
 until Oct. 17, including a ban in the region on dining out
after 10 p.m. and gatherings of more than two people after 6
p.m.
    The country recorded 2,486 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday,
according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
(KDCA), with the daily tally having topped 3,000 for the first
time https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-daily-covid-19-cases-top-3000-first-time-after-holiday-2021-09-25
 last week. 
    The daily average exceeded 2,635 over the past week - the
highest-ever level and easily more than twice the level a month
before, the KDCA said. 
    The capital Seoul and neighbouring regions remain the
hotspot, reporting almost 2,000 cases every day for the last
week, up about 42% within just one week.  
    "We're in a very dangerous situation where the virus is
spreading surrounding the Seoul metropolitan area," said Lee
Ki-il, deputy minister of health care policy, speaking during a
briefing. 
    The upcoming two weeks is an important period as the
government is revamping its anti-virus policy to facilitate a
phased return to normal activities starting November, he added. 
    Among new incentives introduced to encourage people to get
vaccinated, the deputy minister said wedding ceremonies can be
held with up to 199 attendees if they included 150 fully
vaccinated people. 
    "If the vaccination rate constantly rises and the scales of
outbreaks are stably controlled for the next two weeks, we
should be able to set out on phased back to normal in earnest,"
Lee said. 
    Around 77% of South Korea's 52 million population had
received one shot of vaccine as of Thursday, with about 50%
fully vaccinated, as the country has quickly ramped up its
inoculation campaign https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/asia-supercharges-vaccination-efforts-after-slow-start-us-lags-2021-09-16
 despite a shaky start.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2QI14F
    The government aims to vaccinate 80% of all adults by the
end of October, and is considering introducing a 'vaccine pass'
to allow those who have been fully inoculated to use public
facilities and travel more freely. 
     

 (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
 ((hyonhee.shin@thomsonreuters.com; 822 6936 1474;))