A COVID-19 test at a temporary testing site set up at City Hall Plaza in Seoul, South Korea, December 18, 2020. /Reuters
Gatherings of five or more people will be banned in the greater Seoul area over the Christmas and New Year holidays in a new measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea, local officials said Monday.
The new order will take effect on Wednesday and last through January 3.
South Korea reported 24 more deaths due to COVID-19 on Monday, a new daily high, raising the death toll to 698, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The country registered 926 new COVID-19 cases, including 892 that were locally transmitted, pushing the total caseload to 50,591. It has reported over 1,000 new daily cases for five consecutive days over the past week.