Seoul Reports 503 New COVID-19 Cases, Third Day Above 500... 'Social Distancing Level 4' from 12th

Seoul City Reduces Nighttime Public Transport Operations by 20%... Strict Crackdown on Outdoor Drinking After 10 PM
Seoul Districts Also Gradually Strengthen Quarantine Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The number of new COVID-19 cases in Seoul has exceeded 500 for the third consecutive day. The government has decided to implement Level 4 social distancing measures in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, starting from the 12th.

On the 9th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that 503 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Seoul on the 8th. The number of new cases has remained above 500 for three consecutive days since reaching a record high of 583 on the 6th.

Accordingly, the number has already surpassed the government's new social distancing application threshold of 389 cases. The recent 7-day average daily cases in Seoul, excluding imported cases, is 410. Including imported cases, it reaches 415.9.

Due to the sharp increase in new COVID-19 cases, private gatherings of three or more people will be prohibited after 6 p.m. starting from the 12th, according to government measures in Seoul. Before 6 p.m., private gatherings of up to four people are allowed. Seoul City has also raised its quarantine level by reducing subway and bus operations by 20% after 10 p.m. Bus reductions began on the 8th, and subway reductions started on the 9th.

Outdoor drinking in major parks and other areas will also be strictly regulated. Seoul City has issued an administrative order banning outdoor drinking from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day in 25 major parks, Han River parks, and along the Cheonggyecheon Stream. The order has been in effect since 10 p.m. on the 6th for 25 parks including Gyeongui Line Forest Trail and Gildong Ecological Park, from midnight on the 7th for Han River parks, and from 10 p.m. on the 7th for the Cheonggyecheon Stream area.

Seoul's autonomous districts are also implementing their own enhanced quarantine measures one after another. On the same day, Mapo-gu issued an administrative order banning nighttime drinking in parks and green spaces within its jurisdiction to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The order applies to 173 locations including Bu-eong-i Neighborhood Park. Songpa-gu closed the Munjeong Culture Valley sunken plaza, frequently visited by young and middle-aged people, starting from the 7th, and has restricted access to three Dongho areas of Seokchon Lake and one Seoho area since the 23rd of last month.

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the 9th, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Seoul has risen to 53,577. Currently, 4,791 people are in isolation and treatment, and one additional death was reported, bringing the total to 519.

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