<Anchor> With the number of
additional confirmed cases reaching 1,500, the authorities are considering raising the quarantine level in areas other than the metropolitan area. The number of people who can gather in one place varies by region now, but we are considering limiting it to 4 people, and implementing measures similar to the 4th step in the metropolitan area if the trend does not stop.
First news, this is Ahn Sang-woo.
<Reporter> At a
pig farming company in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, one employee was confirmed on the 9th and then spread to acquaintances and family, a total of 20 people were confirmed.
In Ulsan, four more confirmed cases related to daycare were added today, raising the number to 54.
In non-metropolitan areas, large and small infections are continuing in various places in daily life, including workplaces, academies, and entertainment establishments.
The number of confirmed cases in non-metropolitan areas has steadily increased, accounting for more than a quarter of domestic cases.
There is also a 'balloon effect' that moves away from the metropolitan area, which is level 4, to the non-metropolitan area, which is level 2, of distancing.
Therefore, the government is discussing ways to increase the number of people allowed for private gatherings in non-metropolitan areas to no more than four people.
If the spread is still not caught, measures similar to the 4th stage in the metropolitan area are being considered.
[Kim Bu-gyeom / Prime Minister: If the number of confirmed cases continues to increase, I would like to state clearly that there is no choice but to limit the number of gatherings after 6 pm even outside the metropolitan area.
The government will announce the new meeting number standards in non-metropolitan areas as early as the next day (18th) after going through the process of collecting opinions from local governments.
At the sauna in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, a total of 52 people, including users, were infected, and the spread of the virus in the metropolitan area is not slowing down.
Following the Hyundai Department Store Trade Center branch where the group infection occurred, three employees were confirmed one after another at the Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam branch.
Starting tomorrow, the city of Seoul has ordered a diagnostic test for 128,000 workers at 32 department stores in the city.
In addition, by the end of this month, the government has asked all department store visitors to leave a record of entry and exit, such as QR codes.
{Video coverage: Jeong Seong-hwa, video editing: Hwang Ji-young, VJ: Oh Se-gwan)