<Anchor> There were



1,630 new confirmed cases of Corona 19 yesterday (22nd). The government has decided to extend the 4th step of social distancing in the metropolitan area, which ends the day after tomorrow, for two weeks until the 8th of next month.



First news, reporter Park Soo-jin.



<Reporter>



1,630 new confirmed cases of Corona 19 were added a day yesterday, continuing the number of confirmed cases in the 1,000 range for the 17th day in a row.



Excluding 56 imported cases, the number of infected patients in Korea is 1,574.



By region, there were 1,9 cases in the metropolitan area, including 516 in Seoul, and 565 in non-metropolitan areas, including 115 in Busan and 93 in Gyeongnam.



Non-metropolitan areas accounted for 35.9% of all confirmed cases, the highest since the fourth pandemic.



As the number of confirmed cases around 1,000 continues nationwide, the government has decided to extend the 4th phase of measures in the metropolitan area, which is scheduled to end on Sunday, by two more weeks until the 8th of next month.



[Jeon Hae-cheol/Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 2nd Deputy Director: The average daily number of confirmed cases at the time of the 3rd epidemic was about 660, but now, experiencing the 4th epidemic, it is 1,410, which is more than double the size. The situation.] As in the



previous stage 4, private gatherings are limited to 4 people before 6pm and 2 people after 6pm.



Some quarantine rules have been strengthened.



Outdoor sports that require team play, such as baseball and futsal, which were excluded from private gatherings, are also restricted.



At exhibitions and fairs, PCR testing is mandatory for resident staff, and visitors are only operated by reservation.



However, weddings and funerals, where up to 49 people were allowed only for relatives, were kept in consideration for inconvenience to the public, but non-relatives were allowed to attend.



[Lee Ki-il / 1st Supervisor, Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters: The goal of this extension of the distance is to reverse the increase in epidemics in the metropolitan area and to stably reduce the number of patients to within the three-step standard.] The



government aims even after two weeks He said that if it is difficult to achieve, it will review strong measures such as bans on gathering of hazardous facilities or strengthening operating hours restrictions