China News Service, August 23. According to Singapore’s “Lianhe Zaobao” report, South Korea’s new crown virus epidemic has recently deteriorated sharply. The government announced that it will extend stricter social safety distance measures to the whole country from the 23rd, and once again urged people not to go out as much as possible. .

  According to data from South Korea’s Central Anti-epidemic Countermeasures Headquarters, from 00:00 on the 21st to 00:00 on the 22nd, there were 332 newly confirmed cases in South Korea, of which 315 were local infections, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases rose to 17,002. There are currently 309 deaths.

  This is the number of new confirmed cases in South Korea breaking 300 for two consecutive days. In addition, the new cases have spread throughout South Korea. This is the first time that South Korea has confirmed patients in all administrative regions at the same time since the first confirmed case was discovered on January 20. The severe situation has caused great concern to the authorities.

  South Korea’s Minister of Health and Welfare Park Linghou announced that in order to avoid further deterioration of the epidemic, the second-level social distancing measures that were originally implemented only in the metropolitan area and Busan will be extended to the whole country from the 23rd. The second level measures include a total ban on indoor activities and church gatherings with more than 50 people. Nightclubs, karaoke lounges, cafeterias and Internet cafes must also be closed.

  However, Park Linghou added that some areas with fewer infections, such as Gangwon Province and North Gyeongsang Province, can recommend the implementation of second-level social distancing measures rather than compulsorily.

  Kwon Yuk, deputy head of the South Korean Central Anti-epidemic Countermeasures Headquarters, emphasized that if the epidemic continues to spread after this week, the authorities have to consider raising the measures to the third level, but it will have "a serious impact on the Korean economy and people's lives." He called on the public to stay alert to the epidemic and actively cooperate with epidemic prevention measures, including wearing masks when going out.

  What worries the authorities most is that the rate of confirmed cases of "unknown infection route" within two weeks exceeds 20% of the total cases, and the elderly cases over 65 accounted for 32%.

  Quan Yuyu emphasized that once the elderly are infected, their condition is easy to get worse. Therefore, they are reminded again to avoid going out to avoid increasing the risk of infection.

  The Seoul "Love First Church" that caused this new round of infection has had 796 people diagnosed as of noon on the 22nd, and the infection caused by this church has spread to seven other churches. These churches have more than 60 confirmed cases.