South Korea extends social distancing, allows fully vaccinated some leeway

South Korea has extended its social distancing curbs for two weeks amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, while allowing vaccinated people some latitude, its prime minister said on Friday, August 20.

The country’s fourth COVID-19 wave has shown few signs of abating six weeks after the toughest Level 4 distancing rules, which include a ban on gatherings of more than two people after 6 pm, were imposed in the greater Seoul area.

South Korea reported 2,052 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, August 19, 2,001 of which were locally acquired, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) data showed.

As part of the extended restrictions, authorities will require restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area to close an hour earlier at 9 pm until September 5, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum told a COVID-19 response meeting.

In the same region, where previously only two people could gather after 6 pm, one or two other fully vaccinated people can now join them, 14 days after their last shot, Kim said.

Restaurants and cafes have accounted for 30% of recent cluster COVID-19 outbreaks, said Son Young-rae, a senior health ministry official.

Staff at high-risk facilities such as saunas, indoor gyms, karaoke bars and private academies will have to take biweekly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the health ministry said.

These incentives are aimed at encouraging vaccinations and boosting the economy, especially businesses such as restaurants and cafes that have been hit hardest by prolonged measures.

South Korea has given 48.3% of its 52 million population at least one vaccine dose, and 21.6% are fully vaccinated. It aims to fully immunize 70% by October.

Helped largely by vaccinating the elderly and the vulnerable, the country has not seen a significant increase in COVID-19 deaths, with a mortality rate of 0.94%, but the number of severe and critical cases have been on the rise, reaching 385 as of Thursday.

The KDCA has registered a total of 232,859 infections since the pandemic started, with 2,197 deaths. – Rappler.com