Coronavirus: South Korea set to bring back lockdown restrictions after sharp increase in new cases

‘There’s a need to maximise social distancing in areas where the virus is circulating, to force people to avoid public facilities and other crowded spaces,’ say health officials

People suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus wait to receive tests at a coronavirus screening station in Bucheon, South Korea (AP)

South Korea has reported its biggest jump in the number of coronavirus infections in more than 50 days, prompting the government to reinstate social distancing restrictions in certain areas for two weeks.

On Thursday, 79 new cases were reported of which 67 were from the Seoul metropolitan area, said the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

A new cluster of infections emerged at a logistics centre in Bucheon-si, in the Gyeonggu Province, on 12 May. 46 new cases linked to the Coupang logistics centre were among those confirmed on Thursday, bringing the total to 82.

Health Minister Park Neung-hoo announced on Thursday that strict social distancing rules have been reimposed in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province until 14 June to contain any further spread of Covid-19.

It comes less than a month since the nationwide lockdown ended on 6 May. South Korea has since lifted some restrictions gradually, but a resurgence of the virus may threaten to put more areas back under lockdown.

According to the Korea Herald, nightclubs, places of worship, museums, theatres and parks in the affected areas will remain closed for the next two weeks, and companies are encouraged to allow telecommuting and flexible work schedules for employees.

Tuition centres and Internet gaming cafes frequented by children and young adults have also been urged to close, as the government aims to allow students to return to school as soon as possible.

The Education Ministry on Wednesday said class openings were delayed at 561 schools nationwide due to fears about the virus.

Testing on more than 4,000 workers and visitors to the Coupang logistics centre continued on Thursday. KCDC deputy director Kwon Jun-wook said people at the facility were believed to have not followed social distancing and protective measures properly, including wearing a mask.

KCDC director Jeong Eun-kyeong noted increasing difficulties in tracking transmissions of the virus as public activity increased.

“We will do our best to trace contacts and implement preventive measures, but there’s a limit to such efforts,” she said.

“There’s a need to maximise social distancing in areas where the virus is circulating, to force people to avoid public facilities and other crowded spaces.”

The KCDC also announced it was “conducting mass testing of persons who visited public venues and events visited by confirmed Covid-19 cases” in an effort to stop the spread as early as possible.

South Korea received high praise for its widespread testing and intensive contact tracing efforts that enabled the country to avoid a lengthy lockdown similar to those seen in other countries.

But with cases rising for the third day in a row, health officials are calling for other major metropolitan areas to return to stricter social distancing measures.

On-site inspections of logistics centres across the country will also be carried out to develop better policies for preventing outbreaks at such facilities.

Additional reporting by agencies