South Korea extends COVID-19 restrictions

Gulf Today Report 

South Korea will be extending its restrictions by two weeks until the end of the Lunar New Year holidays, said Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun on Sunday.

The announcement dashed earlier expectations that the government would ease the rules from the current highest levels, which include a restaurant curfew and a ban on gatherings of more than four people and have been in place since early December.

However, health authorities have decided to maintain restrictions due to a new outbreak that appeared from missionary training schools across the country.

"The third COVID-19 wave, which had temporarily slowed, is again threatening our daily lives following the group infections from the missionary institutes,” said Chung. 

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The restriction has prohibited indoor café, restaurant and dining after 9 p.m. and gathering of more than four people.

"There is a danger that it might lead to a broader re-spread of the virus, and potentially another major wave where thousands of patients emerge within a short time," Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae told a briefing.

If the situation improves the government is likely to “positively consider” easing the restrictions.

Chung said the ongoing spread must be further dampened to facilitate South Korea's vaccination campaign and the start of the spring school semester, which are respectively set for February and March.