South Korea adds over 1,100 virus cases despite tougher distancing rules

Anmok Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is cordoned off Dec. 25 to keep visitors away to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infections. Yonhap

More than 1,100 daily new COVID-19 cases were reported here for Friday, despite all-out efforts to lower the curve of infections with the toughest distancing rules yet in place.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Saturday that 1,132 more coronavirus infections were uncovered in the previous 24 hours, including 1,104 local ones, putting the total caseload at 55,902, with the death toll rising by 20 to 793.

While the daily tally is slightly lower than Thursday's record high of 1,241, the number of cases has hovered between 800 and 1,000 since Dec. 13, including five days of over 1,000 last week.

The government is grappling to contain this third wave of infections with its toughest social distancing rules to date, including banning of gatherings of five or more people and shutting down popular venues over the Christmas and New Year's holiday season.

It has urged the people to strictly comply with the distancing rules, warning that any violations will face a fine of up to 3 million won (US$2,700).

On Friday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun warned against those who flout the rules in times of difficulties, calling for efforts to stay united in sticking to the distancing rules so that the administration's antivirus measures can produce results.

The government has kept social distancing at the second highest of Level 2.5 in the five-tier system in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country's 51.6 million population. It is trying hard not to raise the level because of the potential economic impact.

However, given the unabated spread of the coronavirus, the health authorities plan to decide Sunday on whether to raise the guidelines to Level 3. (Yonhap)