"The next few months will be difficult"... Closing of indoor restaurant business

<Anchor>

As the number of coronavirus cases is rapidly increasing not only in Korea, but also in the United States and Europe, countries are taking out lockdown orders and emergency measures again. A growing number of European countries are implementing lockdown measures, such as London declaring a 'majority'. In the United States, indoor restaurants have also been closed, and New York is considering canceling New Year's events. In the US, there are also warnings that the next few months of this winter will be difficult. 

Correspondent Kim Jong-won from New York.

<Reporter>

A pizzeria in Washington DC, USA, is busy with customers, but only al fresco dining with chairs on the table is allowed.

The indoor business, which was resumed this spring, has been suspended again for the first time in a few months due to the rapid increase in the number of corona patients.

[Restaurant Waiter: As the number of confirmed cases surged on Thursday last year, the bars next to it were also closed, and indoor business was also suspended like this.]

New York, where year-end events such as musicals and Christmas performances are being canceled one after another, is finally the famous Times Square New Year The event is also under consideration.

[Bill de Blasio / Mayor of New York: The New Year's event is currently being discussed with Times Square officials. Until Christmas, we will decide whether to cancel the event or not. I expect the number of coronavirus cases to soar very, very, very high over the next few weeks.]

Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease authority in the United States, said that the number of confirmed cases of Omicron is doubling every two or three days, and that in some parts of the United States, 50% of self-quarantined people are infected with Omicron.

[Anthony Fauci/Senior Medical Adviser at the White House: Due to Omicron, this winter will be difficult for weeks to months.]

On the other hand, in the UK yesterday (19th) alone, more than 12,000 confirmed cases were reported. In Italy, close to 30,000 new confirmed cases recorded the highest in over a year.