Local authorities in South Korea’s capital Seoul on Thursday announced a ban on gatherings in the city due to surging cases of the novel coronavirus.
Ten or more people will no longer be allowed to gather in Seoul until Aug. 30 starting Friday, Yonhap News Agency reported.
AUTHORITIES HAD BANNED MASS GATHERINGS IN CHURCHES
The step was taken after the country reported 288 more coronavirus cases, including 276 local infections. The death toll climbed to 307 after another patient lost their life to coronavirus.
Most of the new cases were in Seoul and its neighboring Gyeonggi province.
“We are standing on the cusp of the nationwide outbreak. The wider capital region should brace for a massive wave of the outbreak,” said Kwon Joon-wook, a deputy director at the Central Disease Control Headquarters.
“If the country fails to trace contacts, it may face serious virus situations similar to those in the United States and Europe,” he added.
Earlier, South Korean authorities had banned mass gatherings in churches outside of normal prayers.