SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA) – For the first time, private tuition centres in the South Korean capital remained shut and traffic was light on Monday as stricter social-distancing norms came into place.
To halt the spread of the virus, South Korean authorities on Friday imposed restrictions on the operation of restaurants, cafes, cram schools in Seoul metropolitan area while churches, nightclubs and public schools remained closed.
Authorities were forced to take the decision to implement stricter curbs as earlier restrictions on movement could not prevent a second wave of infections in churches, nursing homes and hospitals.
As many as 238 new cases were reported as of Sunday midnight according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Most of the new infections are centred around Seoul and its suburbs. It is the 18th straight day of triple digit daily cases.
With most firms encouraging staff to telecommute, there were fewer cars on the streets.
“I began working from home today as the company allowed it for the first time because the number of cases continued to surge,” said Oh Yun-mi, 36, an employee at a manufacturing company.
Private tuition centres, which continued to operate in March when the pandemic broke out, were forced to close down. The capital has close to 25,000 such institutions.
Tech firms such as Samsung Electronics, LG and SK Hynix have revised their telecommuting policies and the government has reduced the number of staff at public offices.
In the capital, dine-in facilities at restaurants, pubs and bakeries have been restricted after 9 pm until Sunday while cafe chains can only accept home-delivery or takeout orders.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
