23 Dec

South Korea says it will close ski resorts and other tourist attractions during the Christmas and New Year holidays as it grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases.

The daily number of new infections in the country has rebounded from fewer than 100 cases early last month to a record high of 1,097 last Saturday.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced on Tuesday that special measures will be in place from Thursday through January 3, to block the spread of the virus.

He said locations to be closed include 179 ski resorts, skating venues and other facilities, as well as national parks and popular locations from which to watch the first sunrise of the year.

The prime minister also announced a nationwide ban from Thursday on private gatherings of five or more people.

The move is an extension of measures set to take effect from Wednesday in Seoul and areas surrounding the capital.

South Korea has recently reported cluster infections at various facilities including nursing care homes and railway stations.

A prison in Seoul reported nearly 200 infections among inmates and staff. 

Former president Lee Myung-bak is now serving a sentence at the prison after he was convicted of corruption.

nhk