프렌차이즈 커피숍 테이크아웃 배달만, 음식점 밤 9시이후 음식물 섭취못해... 경제충격 우려에 일단 '2.5단계' 격상<br /><br />Let's begin with tightened social distancing restrictions here in the greater Seoul area in efforts to contain growing Covid-19 clusters in the region and beyond.<br />For eight days starting Sunday, only takeout drinks will be available at franchised coffee shops and only pickups and deliveries will be allowed at restaurants after 9 p.m.<br />Choi Jeong-yoon leads our coverage.<br />Starting this Sunday, social distancing in South Korea will be much stricter.<br />Lasting for eight days, the new measures are a stronger version of the current distancing level 2, affecting the greater Seoul area.<br />This comes after the country on Friday reported 371 new cases.<br />Under the new guidelines, restaurants, bakeries and bars in the region will not be allowed to admit customers between 9 PM and 5 AM.<br />Take-out and delivery, however, will be allowed at all times.<br />There will be no eating or drinking inside franchise coffee shops, but take-out and delivery will be allowed there as well.<br />Cram schools, private academies and study cafes will not be allowed to hold lessons in person but will have to move online.<br />The measures also require indoor sports facilities, such as gyms and billiard clubs, to close as well.<br />The health authorities say that should the virus situation still not improve, the country will have no choice but to enforce the strictest level of distancing, Level 3.<br />"If this does not contain the spread of the virus, then we will have to move on to our last resort, Level 3. Level 3 would have a huge impact on our economy and daily lives, so we ask for your active cooperation and participation."<br />The health authorities are asking people to cancel all unnecessary meetings and are urging senior citizens to stay home as much as possible.<br />The new restrictions will affect some 470-thousand businesses, which include more than 60-thousand academies and 380-thousand restaurants.<br />Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.<br />
