"Concerns Over Large-Scale Outbreak in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Avoid Gatherings Until Next Week" (Breaking)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 2nd, the government stated that there is concern about a large-scale outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 2nd, "The spread continues in the Seoul metropolitan area, where population density is high and there is a large floating population."

Son said, "All confirmed cases that occurred in the community the previous day were only in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, showing a clear concentration of recent cases in the metropolitan area," adding, "Community infections triggered at places such as Itaewon clubs and Bucheon logistics centers are spreading sequentially through multi-use facilities in the metropolitan area."

The government emphasized that breaking the chain of sequential infections in the metropolitan area is essential to prevent further spread.

Son urged, "Now is the time to compromise part of daily life for quarantine," and requested, "Residents of the metropolitan area should postpone appointments and gatherings as much as possible until next weekend and refrain from using multi-use facilities such as restaurants and pubs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.