LEVEL 2.5 MEASURES GOES INTO EFFECT

[Anchor Lead]

Even though the number of COVID-19 tests conducted was down during the weekend, daily infections topped 600 as of yesterday. Starting today, Level 2.5 distancing measures will be enforced in the greater metro area and Level 2 for non-capital regions. Authorities warn that if the spread of the virus is not curtailed, daily infections may even surpass 900 next week and imposing the highest Level 3 distancing could become inevitable.

[Pkg]

A public bath house in Seoul's Dongjak-gu district. After an employee here tested positive on Thursday, 29 others were also found to be infected. The sauna's underground location made ventilation difficult and the infected employee who interacted with customers a great deal had worked for long hours. Also in the dressing room, observing social distancing was a challenge. A dozen or so infections are also reportedly connected to five bars in Seoul's Itaewon area. Authorities have asked citizens who visited these establishments to get tested. One characteristic of the current viral stage is that infections can take place anywhere including saunas, bars and various private gatherings. As more people stay indoors in the cold weather, insufficient ventilation can foster conditions conducive to the virus' survival.

[Soundbite] NA SUNG-WOONG(CENTRAL DISEASE CONTROL HQs) : "At the current pace, new daily cases will range from 550 to 750 throughout this week and possibly surpass 900 every day of next week."

South Korea reported 487.9 virus casesn per day on average last week, which is 87.8 higher than the previous week. The virus reproduction rate, or the number of infections caused by one patient... still remains above one, making epidemiological surveys highly difficult. Patients whose infection routes can't be determined also account for nearly 18%
of all cases. Authorities stress that if the current outbreak is not curbed, the last remaining option would be the highest degree of measures that will restrict social activities on all fronts.

[Soundbite] PARK NEUNG-HOO(MINISTER OF HEALTH & WELFARE) : "An explosive nationwide epidemic and a medical system collapse can become real. Therefore raising social distancing measures to Level 3 for the whole country will be inevitable."

The government says the goal is to lower daily infections in the greater metropolitan area to below 200 and urged people who are not feeling well to get tested right away.