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South Korea extends social distancing measures for two weeks

Friday, August 20, 2021

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South Korea

South Korea recently extended its COVID-19 social distancing measures for two weeks in order to control the sudden rise in coronavirus cases. However, the country has also decided to give vaccinated residents some freedom. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Friday, August 20, 2021.

Following six weeks of the toughest Level 4 distancing rules, the country’s fourth Covid-19 wave showed few signs of decreasing. The previous restriction included a ban on gatherings of more than two people after 6 pm, which was mainly imposed in the greater Seoul area.

According to the latest data by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), South Korea reported 2,052 new Covid-19 cases on Friday. More than 2,000 cases were reportedly acquired locally.

As part of the newly extended restrictions, authorities have asked restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area to close an hour earlier at 9 pm until Sept 5, as informed by the Prime Minister in a Covid-19 response meeting.

Earlier, only two people could gather after 6 pm in the region. The latest rules would allow one or two other fully vaccinated people can now join them, 14 days after their last shot.  A senior health ministry official, Son Young-rae, mentioned that restaurants and cafes have accounted for 30 per cent of recent cluster Covid-19 outbreaks.

As per the latest measures, staff at high-risk facilities such as saunas, indoor gyms, karaoke bars and private academies will be required to take biweekly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The incentives have been put in place to encourage vaccinations and to boost the economy, especially businesses such as restaurants and cafes that have been hit hardest by prolonged measures.

South Korea has given 48.3 per cent of its 52 million population at least one vaccine dose, and 21.6 per cent are fully vaccinated. It aims to fully immunise 70 per cent by October. Helped largely by vaccinating the elderly and the vulnerable, the country has not seen a significant increase in Covid-19 deaths.

Although the mortality rate has been around 0.94 per cent, the number of severe and critical cases has been on the rise, reaching 385 as of Thursday.  The KDCA has registered a total of 232,859 infections since the pandemic started, with 2,197 deaths.

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