In South Korea, the health authorities have registered a peak in new coronavirus infections. Today the authorities reported 950 new infections, almost twice as many as in the past few days. In the Seoul region alone, 669 infections were recorded. Authorities fear a major outbreak in the densely populated capital that could overwhelm health services. Around half of the country’s 52 million people live in Seoul.
The regional government in Seoul had already imposed stricter measures in early December, including a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people. Cafes are only allowed to offer take-away food, restaurants have to close at 9 p.m.
Despite the restrictions, „the movement of people has not decreased significantly,“ said senior health officer Lim Sook Young to journalists. “The infections from face-to-face meetings continue. Please cancel all such meetings, ”she added.
In total, more than 36,800 people have been infected with the corona virus in South Korea since the beginning of the pandemic. The country was particularly hard hit at the beginning of the pandemic, but was able to contain the spread of the virus quickly with a strict follow-up and testing program.
