정총리 "8월 17일 임시공휴일 지정 검토... 공공시설 재개할 것"
South Korea reported just over 30 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-gyun revealed the government is considering reopening public facilities and designating August 17th a public holiday.
Oh Jung-hee starts us off.
South Korea is mulling whether to designate August 17th as a public holiday.
At the government's disaster and safety measures meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said... doing so would provide ordinary people and medical staff with a break, as well as help in boosting the coronavirus-hit domestic economy.
"Because of the protracted COVID-19 outbreak, the economy is suffering and many people as well as medical personnel are feeling exhausted. Especially this year as we have less public holidays because many of them overlap with weekends."
Considering whether to designate Monday August 17th as a holiday is because August 15th, the National Liberation Day holiday, falls on a Saturday - and would therefore give people a three-day weekend.
The government is looking to reopen public facilities such as libraries and art galleries, starting on July 20th.
"Quarantine guidelines will have to be strictly abided by like limiting the number of people in, mandating the use of masks, and using electronic entry logs."
On Sunday, South Korea reported 34 new cases of COVID-19.
For the first time in eight days, new domestic infections, which stands at 21, outnumbered those imported from overseas with 13.
Gwangju and Seoul both had 10, and one came from Daejeon.
One additional coronavirus-related death was reported the total now stands at 2-hundred-95.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.