South Korean capital orders masks on in coronavirus battle
CGTN
A man holds his son as they shop at Myeongdong shopping district which is nearly empty amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Seoul, South Korea, August 24, 2020. /Reuters

A man holds his son as they shop at Myeongdong shopping district which is nearly empty amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Seoul, South Korea, August 24, 2020. /Reuters

South Korea's capital on Monday ordered masks to be worn in both indoor and outdoor public places for the first time, as it battles a surge in coronavirus cases that is spreading at an alarming rate centered in the densely populated metropolitan and surrounding areas.

"With the exception of personal spaces like one's home, masks should be worn in all indoor areas. Masks should also be worn outside unless there is no one around you," said Park Yoo-mi, Seoul's director of public health.

Under the current guidelines in the city, those who do not wear masks are not fined or punished. But, they will face fines up to 100,000 won (84 U.S. dollars) as a revised law is set to go into effect on Oct. 13.

In May, the city government had previously mandated face masks on public transport and in taxis, but a recent spike in cases has health officials worry that the country may need to impose its highest level of social distancing, known as phase 3.

A worker wearing a protective suit to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disinfects a cultural treasure, Seoul, South Korea, August 20, 2020. /Reuters

A worker wearing a protective suit to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disinfects a cultural treasure, Seoul, South Korea, August 20, 2020. /Reuters

"If we can't stop it at this stage, we have no choice but to upgrade to the third phase of social distancing," President Moon Jae-in told his top aides.

Under phase 3, schools and business will be urged to close inflicting more damage on Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Seoul confirmed over 1,000 new coronavirus cases from August 15 to 22 alone, compared with some 1,800 cases that were reported since the nation's first case was identified on January 20 to August 14, according to government data.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 266 new cases as of midnight on Sunday, down from 397 a day earlier. Overall, South Korea has reported 17,665 coronavirus cases and 309 deaths.

In Seoul, people will now be required to wear face masks in public indoor places, as well as crowded outdoor areas, except while eating or drinking. /Reuters

In Seoul, people will now be required to wear face masks in public indoor places, as well as crowded outdoor areas, except while eating or drinking. /Reuters

It has been widely praised for its success in tackling the virus, with extensive testing and aggressive contact-tracing, but health ministry official Yoon Tae-ho said investigators had been unable to determine the transmission routes of about 20 percent of recent cases, raising concern about so-called silent spreaders.

He called on people to avoid leaving home and to cancel any unnecessary trips out.

"If we fail to flatten the curve this week we believe we will be faced with a very important crisis, that the virus will spread to the entire nation," Yoon told a briefing.

Cases linked to church

Authorities have linked 875 recent cases to a Seoul church run by a radical conservative preacher.

Some members of the church attended a recent anti-government rally passing the virus on. A total of 176 infections, including seven police, have been traced to the rally, KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong told a briefing.

South Korean police stand guard near the Sarang Jeil Church, which has become a new cluster of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, Seoul, South Korea, August 21, 2020. /Reuters

South Korean police stand guard near the Sarang Jeil Church, which has become a new cluster of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, Seoul, South Korea, August 21, 2020. /Reuters

The government has accused the church of obstruction by not providing complete lists of members and spreading fake news that is hindering the anti-virus effort.

Coupang Corp, one of South Korea's biggest e-commerce firms, said it had shut down its headquarters in Seoul after an employee working from home tested positive.

In June, at least 100 cases were linked to a logistics center run by the e-commerce giant.

The government has extended second-tier social-distancing rules to the whole country after new cases appeared in all of its 17 regions.

Under the restrictions church meetings are banned and nightclubs, buffets and cyber cafes are closed.

South Korea has recorded an average of 162.1 daily infections over the past two weeks – 13 times the average of two weeks ago. Of the new cases, 84 percent were in the Seoul metropolitan area, the KCDC said.

(With input from agencies)