Prime Minister Jeong: "Urgent Measures Needed... Considering Nationwide Expansion of Social Distancing Level 2"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering opening remarks at the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting for COVID-19' held on the 19th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced on the 22nd that he would consider expanding the Level 2 social distancing measures currently implemented in the metropolitan area to the entire country in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Prime Minister Chung said, "While the spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area has not subsided, infections are rapidly spreading to various parts of the country," adding, "Infections originating from some churches in the metropolitan area are spreading to many places nationwide, and the number of cases with unknown infection routes is increasing, making it difficult to predict how much the confirmed cases will increase." He continued, "Special measures are needed to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 in regions outside the metropolitan area as well."

He explained the background for considering the nationwide expansion of Level 2 social distancing, saying, "Social distancing has already been raised to Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Busan, and some local governments are implementing enhanced quarantine measures equivalent to Level 2. However, the government judged that this alone is not sufficient in such a serious crisis situation."

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