S. Korea extends level 2 social distancing guidelines for another week

정부, 수도권 2단계 거리두기 1주 연장…음식점•카페 운영제한

Our top story this afternoon.
Despite mounting pressure on the South Korean government to raise its social distancing measures to level 3... the nation is extending its level 2 social distancing measures in the Seoul Metropolitan area by another week.
South Korea confirmed 371 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, significantly down from the previous day, but still a concerning number.
starts us off.
Despite the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases, South Korea will maintain its level 2 social distancing guidelines for Seoul and its surrounding areas which were set to expire on Sunday by another week.
The government is taking a wait-and-see approach, rather than upscaling the distancing measures to the highest level, which would practically halt all economic and social activity in the country.
"Level 3 social distancing measures are the last bastion we have considering the economic and social ripple effect it could have. Stricter quarantine measures will mean much harsher difficulties in our daily lives, but I ask you for your cooperation."
Instead, the government will discuss measures to limit the operation and opening hours of restaurants and cafes.
This comes as South Korea confirmed 371 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total caseload to 19-thousand-77.
Of the new cases, 359 were local transmissions and 12 were imported.
The 371 new cases come just a day after the country reported 441 cases on Thursday,... the highest daily increase in nearly six months.
South Korea has now seen the number of new cases remain in the triple digits for more than two weeks.
Many of the new cases are still emerging from Seoul and its surrounding areas, but infections are popping up nationwide,... with all 17 regions across South Korea reporting new cases on Friday.
There were three more deaths, raising the total death toll to 316.
Han Seong-woo, Arirang News.