코로나19 신규환자 166명...중대본 회의 열어 수도권 거리두기 2단계 격상 여부 결정
South Korea saw the highest number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases today in 5 months, with 166 new cases.
With the virus spreading fast mainly in metropolitan areas, the government has held an emergency meeting to discuss raising the social distancing level.
For more on this, we have Hong Yoo on the line.
So Yoo, tell us more.
Yes Dami, with 166 more COVID-19 cases confirmed today, South Korea now has a total of 15-thousand-39 cases.
And this is the biggest number observed since March 11, when dozens of people had caught the virus from a call center in Seoul.
The recent spike in cases is mostly due to community transmission within churches, traditional markets, and schools.
If you look at domestic transmissions, most of them are occurring in the metropolitan area.
Among the newly confirmed cases today, 72 were from Seoul, 67 from Gyeonggi-do province, and 6 from Incheon.
That is a total of 145 new cases just within the metropolitan area.
Then there are another 10 new cases from rural areas, and the remaining 11 are recent overseas arrivals.
Due to such statistics, there are worries that transmission will become faster and increase in the metropolitan areas.
In response, the government is expected to take the level of social distancing up to 2 from the current level 1.
And when is the decision expected?
Dami, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and the results of the meeting will be briefed on at around 2:30 pm.
The government observed the status quo in a "grave" manner and has reviewed tightening social distancing by one notch in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do province.
Social distancing level 2 involves prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and more than 100 outdoors.
Sports games will have to proceed without audiences, and schools will have to do online classes.
Private companies will be recommended to suggest employees work from home or to work at flexible hours to limit the number of employees at the office.
If the social distancing level is raised, it is to be implemented from Sunday midnight.
That's all I have for now, back to you Dami.
