Toughened social distancing in greater Seoul extended indefinitely on spiking cases
By Joo kyung-don
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Beleaguered by a steady rise in cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea on Friday opted to indefinitely extend its enhanced social distancing in the country's most densely populated region.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said tougher infection disease prevention measures will be enforced in Seoul and the adjacent cities in Gyeonggi Province, as well as Incheon, the western port city close to the nation's capital, until the number of new cases in the area drops to the single digits.
Since May 29, a two-week toughened social distancing measures have been implemented in the Seoul metropolitan area, home to half of the country's 50-million population, due to a string of cluster infections traced to nightclubs, a distribution center and religious gatherings.
On May 6, the country switched to the loosened social distancing with phased school reopenings starting in mid-May.

In this photo, taken on June 11, 2020, health workers disinfect a classroom at an elementary school in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The measures included the shutdown of public facilities, including museums and parks, while firms were advised to adopt flexible work systems and strictly follow social distancing. Entertainment establishments, such as bars and clubs, were urged to suspend their operations, as well as cram schools.
According to health authorities, 96.4 percent of new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks were identified in the Seoul metropolitan area.
In recent days, new virus cases have been hovering around 50, the threshold which health authorities consider as a criteria for the normalization of most daily activities under the condition people follow basic sanitation measures.
The first major cluster outbreak in the nation's capital area came from Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, in early May. More than 270 cases have been tied to the Itaewon cluster.
Then, a distribution center in Bucheon, west of Seoul, emerged as a new source of COVID-19 infections. More than 140 cases have been traced to the logistics facility run by e-commerce giant Coupang Inc.
While cases tied to Itaewon and the distribution center started to slow down, sporadic infections traced to religious gatherings began to rise from June. More than 90 cases have been connected to churches in the metropolitan area.

In this file photo, taken on June 5, 2020, an office of a door-to-door business retail company in Seoul is closed following the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
In recent days, cases connected to a door-to-door business establishment and table tennis gym added concerns for health authorities. More than 110 cases have been traced to a door-to-door retail company, while 60 cases have been linked to a table tennis center in Yangcheon Ward, southwestern Seoul.
The resurgence in new virus cases in recent weeks has pressured health authorities to return to the nationwide strict social distancing campaign that the country enforced between March 22 and May 5.
However, health authorities have been saying that they have yet to consider switching to extensive and stringent social distancing, citing that the country's quarantine capabilities are sufficient to handle the virus situation.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
BLACKPINK star Jisoo tests positive for COVID-19, to miss world tour stop in Osaka
-
(URGENT) Seoul city sends alert to residents to prepare for evacuation after N. Korea's launch
-
(News Focus) From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade
-
Seoul city sends alert to residents to prepare for possible evacuation after N. Korea's launch
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
Fifty Fifty chart on Billboard Hot 100 for 10th week with 'Cupid'
-
BLACKPINK star Jisoo tests positive for COVID-19, to miss world tour stop in Osaka
-
(URGENT) Seoul city sends alert to residents to prepare for evacuation after N. Korea's launch
-
(News Focus) From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade
-
3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
Gov't to abolish 30-yr period of prescription for death sentence
-
(LEAD) S. Korea beat Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup
-
S. Korean military continues operation to salvage N. Korean rocket debris