S. Korea keeps social distancing curbs ahead of major national holiday
CGTN
A government official sanitizes a street where day workers gathered to seek a job amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Seoul. /Reuters

A government official sanitizes a street where day workers gathered to seek a job amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Seoul. /Reuters

South Korea on Sunday extended level 2 social distancing for a week until September 27, limiting indoor gatherings to below 50 and outdoor to less than 100, and may tighten limits for the Chuseok holiday when people traditionally reunite with families.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the level 2 restrictions need to be kept ahead of Chuseok as "cases with untraceable origins are steadily increasing and fewer tests being carried out on weekends means we should be on high alert."

Following the measure, so-called risk-prone establishments, such as clubs, buffets, cram schools with more than 300 students, and karaoke rooms, will also be shut down for another week.

This year, South Koreans are set to enjoy five days off, including the three-day Chuseok holiday that falls from September 30 to October 2, according to its Yonhap News Agency.

The government has been urging people to stay home over the period, saying that elderly people are more vulnerable to virus infections and the chance runs high for them to fall into serious or critical condition if they are infected with the virus.

South Korea reported 82 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Saturday, the lowest daily infections since mid-August, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of the total, 72 were locally transmitted, bringing the total tally to 22,975, with 383 deaths.

Clusters of infections from a church and political rally sparked a second wave of outbreaks in August, driving the daily tally to more than 400 before the numbers began dropping to the low 100s in early September.

(With input from agencies)