South Korea is extending its social distancing rules for two weeks until Jan. 31, the country’s health ministry said on Saturday.
The ban on meetings of five or more people will also be maintained until the end of January, the ministry added.
The Seoul metropolitan area has been below the social distancing level 2.5, the second highest level, since early December, while the rest of the country has been at level 2, the third highest level.
According to existing rules, dinner is prohibited in Seoul restaurants and surrounding areas after 9 p.m. Spectators are also prohibited at sporting events.
These social distancing measures were due to expire on Sunday. But while the number of new cases is declining daily, the Ministry of Health said the danger of a resurgence remains.
Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said the government will review levels of social distancing once daily cases fall to 400.
South Korean cases: The country reported 547 local and 33 imported infections on Friday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported on Saturday. This brings the total number of cases reported in South Korea to 71,820.
Another 19 patients died, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,236.
The Ministry of Health designated the first fortnight of February as a special quarantine period in anticipation of an increase in traffic during the Lunar New Year celebration next month.
Intercity trains will only be able to fill 50% of seats, while visits to nursing centers will be prohibited.