SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA) – After a second consecutive day of record surge in new coronavirus infections, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in warned on Sunday that curbs may be raised to the highest level. This comes as the nation battles a third wave of infections.
During an emergency meeting convened at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for the first time since February, the president called for vigilance and all-out efforts to stem the spread of the virus.
“Unless the outbreak can be contained now, it has come to the critical point of considering escalating social-distancing measures to the third level,” he said hinting at the five-tier system in the country.
Home to about half of South Korea’s 52 million people, greater Seoul is under level 2.5 restrictions, which prevent gatherings of more than 50 people and restaurants do not have the permission to serve patrons after 9 p.m.
There were as many as 1,030 new coronavirus infections on Sunday compared with 950 the previous day. The tally of infections is 42,766 with 580 fatalities.
According to the Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, there were 1,002 locally transmitted cases.
“Our back is against the wall,” Moon said. “This is a crucial moment to devote all our virus control capabilities and administrative power to stopping the coronavirus spread.”
It is for the first time that the third-largest economy is Asia is going under a Level 3 lockdown. Schools have to switch to remote learning and firms allow essential employees in offices and gatherings of more than 10 are banned.