<Anchor> As of



9 pm yesterday (8th), the number of new corona patients has already exceeded 1,170. Yesterday recorded the highest number of confirmed cases since the outbreak, and today it is expected to reach around 1,300, an increase from yesterday. It has been confirmed that the government has decided to implement Level 4, the highest level of new distancing in the metropolitan area, amid such a rapid increase. The government is announcing this this morning.



Reporter Jang Se-man reports.



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Yesterday morning, the Minister of Health and Welfare chaired the meeting, and in the afternoon, the Prime Minister presided over a breath-taking meeting.



An official from the quarantine authorities said in a phone call with SBS, "It was discussed to implement the new 4th stage of distancing in the entire metropolitan area starting next Monday."



There was also talk of raising only Seoul, where the number of confirmed cases is the most.



The government's urgent decision to upgrade to Level 4 is due to the uncontrollable spread of infection.



Yesterday, 1,275 confirmed cases were the highest since the outbreak of Corona 19, 35 more than the previous high on December 25 last year.



Those in their 20s and 50s accounted for 79% of all patients, and the metropolitan area was 81%.



[Jung Eun-kyung/Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: If the current level is maintained (the number of patients at the end of July), it can reach the level of 1,400, and if the current situation worsens, it is predicted that there will be more than 2,000.]



Even if the distance is strengthened, the effect of reducing the number of confirmed cases will appear after about a week.



For this reason, it has been confirmed that the opinion that the 4th stage upgrade is announced today and that it will be implemented from next Monday came from inside the government.



In step 4 of the new distance, only two people can gather after 6 pm, and no exceptions are allowed for immediate family members.



In addition, restaurants and cafes, as well as marts and PC rooms, are closed until 10 pm, and only relatives are allowed to attend weddings and funerals.



The limit for gatherings of 3 or more may be applied from tomorrow.