The South Korean government is considering raising its social-distancing restrictions to the highest level as coronavirus cases spread beyond the Seoul Metropolitan area and Busan.
The government is currently studying the need to apply level 3 restrictions, Jung Eun-kyeong, head of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Sunday at a briefing.
South Korea reported 397 new virus cases on Sunday, the highest number since March 7. New infections are expected to continue rising, said Jung. The government has expanded level 2 social-distancing rules already in place in the Seoul Metropolitan area and Busan to the rest of the country.
South Korea in June adopted a social-distancing system with three levels of restrictions. Level 3, the highest, prohibits meetings and events of 10 people or more and gives authorities the power to limit business hours at shopping malls and retail stores.
The nation of 50 million people has recorded a total of 17,399 infections and 309 fatalities. Rising infections and the possibility for level 3 rules have also bolstered speculation that there could be a second round of cash handouts and another extra budget.
