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South Korea orders revamp of COVID-19 physical distancing rules

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Sangmi Cha, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/12/21/south-korean-soldier.jpg"/><figcaption>A South Korean soldier wearing a protective suit walks past people who wait in line to undergo COVID-19 test at a coronavirus testing site which is temporarily set up near a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, December 17, 2020.<em> Kim Hong-Ji, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>SEOUL — South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Thursday ordered a revamp of physical distancing guidelines in a bid to win greater public support for efforts to stop local transmission of the new coronavirus.</p><p>The country&#x27;s five-tier physical distancing system has faced a public backlash for imposing unfair restrictions and curfews on specific businesses, including a ban on indoor restaurant dining after 9 p.m.</p><p>&quot;Rather than introduce the guidelines unilaterally, we should make the virus prevention rules along with the public,&quot; Chung told an intra-agency meeting on Thursday.</p><div><strong>RELATED STORIES: </strong></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/01/21/asian-factories-have-mixed-performance-as-pandemic-impact-lingers">Asian factories have mixed performance as pandemic impact lingers</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/29/21/south-korea-to-start-vaccinations-in-feb-eyes-july-for-general-public">South Korea to start vaccinations in Feb., eyes July for general public</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/27/21/skorea-reports-big-jump-in-covid-19-cases-on-outbreaks-in-christian-schools">S.Korea reports big jump in COVID-19 cases on outbreaks in Christian schools</a></li></ul><p>Separately, health authorities warned on Thursday that a large fourth wave of infections caused by the more transmissible British and South African coronavirus variants cannot be ruled out. There have been 39 confirmed cases of those variants.</p><p>While South Korea had initial success in containing the virus without drastic lockdowns, an incremental approach to physical distancing and more rigid guidelines were criticized for leaving it scrambling to contain a third wave of transmissions.</p><div><strong>WATCH: From Wuhan, how did COVID-19 spread all over the world? | TV Patrol </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Djw2DpktoW4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>At the same time, however, hundreds of restaurant and cafe owners across the country complained about the impact of the bans on their businesses. Gym owners hurt by restrictions reopened in protest against strict physical distancing rules, ahead of the recent lifting of the ban.</p><p>South Korea has one of the world&#x27;s highest proportion of self-employed people, about 25% of the job market, making it particularly vulnerable to downturns.</p><p>Authorities on Sunday extended by two weeks a requirement to observe physical distancing, urging vigilance ahead of the Lunar New Year break, when tens of millions of Koreans usually travel across the country. The holiday begins on Feb. 11.</p><p>The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 7 new deaths and 451 new cases by Wednesday, for a total of 1,448 deaths and 79,762 cases overall. </p><div><strong>WATCH: When will we get vaccinated vs COVID-19? | NXT</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OfxfTaUf1rI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The country's five-tier physical distancing system has faced a public backlash for imposing unfair restrictions and curfews on specific businesses, including a ban on indoor restaurant dining after 9 p.m.<br /> </p>

The country's five-tier physical distancing system has faced a public backlash for imposing unfair restrictions and curfews on specific businesses, including a ban on indoor restaurant dining after 9 p.m.

South Korea orders revamp of COVID-19 physical distancing rules

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South Korea orders revamp of COVID-19 physical distancing rules

Sangmi Cha,

Reuters

Published February 04, 2021 12:46 PM PHT

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