South Korea bans year-end functions, some music lessons
South Korean authorities announced a ban on year-end parties and some music lessons on Sunday and said open public saunas plus some cafes must close following corona virus infections surged at their speediest pace since the early days of the pandemic.
South Korea has been one of the world's corona virus mitigation accomplishment stories but spikes in infections have reappeared relentlessly, triggering alarm in Asia's four-largest market.Authorities reported 450 new infections on Sunday after a lot more than 500 conditions were recorded for 3 days in a good row, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said.
What authorities are calling a third wave of infections is spreading at the speediest rate in practically nine weeks, driven by outbreaks at armed service facilities, a sauna, a high school and churches.Primary Minister Chung Sye-kyun said restrictions will be tightened on gatherings and actions seen as prone to virus transmitting, especially in the administrative centre Seoul and surrounding cities.
"Year-end events and functions hosted by hotels, get together rooms, guest houses and other accommodation facilities will end up being banned outright," Chung told a briefing after appointment health officials.Saunas and steam-bath rooms with a high threat of mass infection would as well be banned as would the coaching of wind musical instruments and singing, he said.
For rest of the country, social distancing rules would also be tightened from Tuesday, he said.Individually, Chung said the federal government was speaking with parliament about the probability of new relief cash for households and businesses, which will be the third this year, as the economy struggles."Our assessment is that people need the third crisis support fund ... The government will come up with a conclusion on this after talking about with both ruling and opposition functions."
