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As the number of tests increased after the weekend, the number of new confirmed cases again recorded 1,700. In particular, non-metropolitan areas, where the amount of movement increased during the holiday season, had the highest number of confirmed cases since the fourth epidemic. First of all, the 4th step of distancing in the metropolitan area is expected to be extended until this Sunday, but additional measures to strengthen quarantine may come out.



Reporter Kim Yong-tae reports.



<Reporter> This



is a PC room in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.



After one user was confirmed on the 28th of last month, a total of 31 people were group infected.



[Bakyumi / Seoul Citizens Health Director: used for a long time facilities, and food intake, or use the smoking room, and during the investigation reported to the Radio Waves



of new confirmed characters as while soaring more than 500 people than a day 1,700 people back in five days went up.



Although the proportion of patients in the metropolitan area still exceeds 60%, in general, a slight decrease in the metropolitan area and an increase in the non-metropolitan area continued.



In particular, 628 cases were confirmed in non-metropolitan areas, the highest number since the fourth epidemic.



The amount of movement last week also increased by only 0.8% in the metropolitan area compared to a week ago, but increased by 6.4% in the non-metropolitan area during the holiday season.



As the amount of movement increases, the risk of corona spread also increases.



[Lee Ki-il/Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 1st Controller: I think that a little more comprehensive effort and time is needed to reduce the number of patients. Delta mutations continue to spread.]



Therefore, measures to maintain or strengthen the current distance, including the 'step 4 in the metropolitan area', are being considered.



Among the non-metropolitan regions that are currently in the 3rd stage, more and more local governments are taking stronger measures, such as upgrading Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, to Stage 4 from tomorrow (5th) and Changwon, Gyeongnam, from the day after tomorrow.



The new social distancing measures that will take effect from next week will be announced the day after tomorrow.



Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom said that the ban on gatherings of more than three people after 6 p.m. was too harsh for the self-employed, but the quarantine authorities emphasized that there are no plans to change the ban on gatherings of more than three people in the four-step system.



(Video editing: Jeon Min-gyu, CG: Shim Soo-hyun, VJ: Oh Se-gwan)