SOCIAL DISTANCING LEVEL ESCALATED

[Anchor Lead]

Korea's social distancing level has been raised for the first time in 3 months. Back in August, distancing rules were tightened because the spread of the virus wasn't being contained. Lessons garnered over the past months include thorough observance of personal quarantine guidelines and making sure to remove any risk factors that can lead to a major outbreak.

[Pkg]

In mid-August when virus cases were spiking in the greater metro area, Level 2 social distancing was imposed for Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Under the measure, indoor gatherings of over 50 people and outdoor events of over 100 participants cannot take place. Operation is banned for 12 types of high-risk facilities. Just after a week of announcing Level 2 for the capital area, infections sharply increased in other regions as well. Eventually Level 2 was applied nationwide. Some facilities could not open under the stepped-up rules but still, the daily COVID-19 tally continued to increase. A stronger imposition of Level 2 distancing had to be enforced in the metro area. Restaurants could not receive customers past 9 p.m. and franchise coffee shops were only allowed deliveries and takeouts. These stringent measures lasted for 2 weeks. But effects were slow to show. The number of daily COVID-19 cases dropped to double digits only one month later.

[Soundbite] PARK NEUNG-HOO(CENTRAL DISASTER & SAFETY COUNTERMEASURES HQs(AUG. 28)) : "Decrease in people's movement in the capital region last weekend, based on phone records, was only half the level during the Daegu region outbreak earlier, which is a concerning fact."

It will be no different this time around. Distancing is raised but without citizens' cooperation such as avoiding travel and meetings, it may be difficult to achieve the desired results. Moreover, these days, infections are popping up all across people's daily lives and no longer confined to certain organizations or assemblies. First and foremost, it's crucial for individuals to abide by safety guidelines such as mask wearing, hand washing and distancing.

[Soundbite] PROF. JEON BYEONG-YUL(CHA UNIVERSITY) : "Tough unilateral measures do not equate to effective response. It's more important to seek citizen cooperation so they can accept policy measures."

The government will observe the situation for 2 weeks, then review further raising social distancing levels. If it goes up to Level 2 from 1.5, greater restrictions will be imposed on the operation of public facilities.