<Anchor> The number of



new confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been in the 7,000 range for the third day, and the number of severe cases is still approaching 1,000. Ahead of social distancing, which will start again tomorrow (18th), the government has additionally disclosed measures to strengthen quarantine at religious facilities.



Reporter Jeong Da-eun covered it.



<Reporter>



Yesterday, there were 7,435 new confirmed cases of Corona 19, recording the 7,000 level for three days in a row.



Excluding 35 imported cases, 7,400 are domestically infected.



The number of patients with severe cases decreased by 18 a day yesterday to 971.



The death toll was 73.



The number of infected with the Omicron mutant virus increased by three more to 151.



A plan to strengthen quarantine measures for religious facilities, such as churches in Incheon, where the Omicron group infection occurred, was also disclosed.



In the future, regular religious activities such as mass and worship will be able to attend 30% of the total, up to 299 people, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not.



If it consists only of those who have completed inoculation, it is possible to up to 70% of the capacity.



The same applies to the prohibition of activities that generate a lot of splashes, such as eating indoors in religious facilities or praying in a loud voice.



The quarantine measures will be strengthened for two weeks from 00:00 tomorrow, and the number of private gatherings is limited to four in both the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.



Business hours for multi-use facilities will also be reduced again.



Entertainment facilities, restaurants, cafes, gyms, etc. are not open after 9 PM.



Some facilities, such as movie theaters, performance halls, and PC rooms, may be open until 10pm.



Lifelong education academies for adults are also not allowed to open after 10 pm, but in consideration of the entrance exam season, academies for youths are allowed to operate 24 hours a day.



In principle, performances or sports events with more than 300 people are prohibited.