South Korean city returns to tighter social distancing as coronavirus cases spike

Record ID: 1560613

  • Title: South Korean city returns to tighter social distancing as coronavirus cases spike
  • Date: 3rd July 2020
  • Summary: SEJONG, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT COMPLEX SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2020 05:06
  • Keywords: COVID-19 South Korea briefing coronavirus
  • Location: SEJONG, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEJONG, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA002CL97GHZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korea reported 63 new coronavirus cases as of Thursday (July 2), most from domestic infections outside Seoul, triggering the return of tighter social distancing curbs in one city as the spectre of a second wave of the disease worried authorities.
    For the first time in almost two months, new daily cases from other cities surpassed those from Seoul area. The southwestern city of Gwangju has recorded more than 50 cases the past few days, prompting the suspension of operations at public facilities such as libraries and museums.
    Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting on Friday (July 3) that the government is seeking ways to support Gwangju city and immediately upgraded its social distancing guidelines.
    The recent spikes are concerning as new clusters are emerging in wide range of areas, making it harder for epidemiological surveys. But with the case numbers still manageable, local governments will each decide whether to upgrade their guidelines, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip told a briefing.
    The new cases took South Korea's tally to 12,967 with 282 deaths by midnight on Thursday.
    (Production: Hyunyoung Yi)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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