"서울 절체절명 위기...내일부터 밤 9시 이후 멈춤 기간"<br /><br />Nearly half of the 600 locally transmitted Covid cases were from the densely populous capital, Seoul which has been at the center of the recent viral resurgence.<br />To curb the spike, the City of Seoul announced a virtual shutdown of the nation's capital after 9 pm for two weeks effective tomorrow evening.<br />Most establishments, such as grocery stores, department stores, beauty salons, and internet cafes, are ordered to close after 9 and public transport services will also be cut down.<br />Bae Eun-ji with details.<br />With nearly 300 of Friday's domestic caseload coming from the capital city alone, Seoul City Government has decided to shut down most facilities in the city after 9 PM... for a period of two weeks starting Saturday.<br />"Seoul city will turn off all the lights after 9PM,... when most economic and social activates come to an end."<br />The original Level Two social distancing measures required coffee shops, indoor sports facilities, and gyms to close at 9 PM.<br />From Saturday,... large stores, PC rooms, study cafes, amusement parks, and department stores will have to be closed after 9 PM as well.<br />But to allow citizens to buy necessities,... small stores under 300-square meters will be open, and delivery services and take-out available in restaurants.<br />A total of 25-thousand study rooms, study cafes, and private educational institutes, called "Hakwons" will all be closed from 9 PM.<br />A total of 66 public facilities operated by the city including libraries, museums, art galleries, and performance halls will also be closed regardless of the time of day.<br />And over one-thousand public sports facilities will be closed too.<br />In addition, 30-percent of public transport services will be cut from 9 PM.<br />Fewer buses will run from Saturday night, while subways will operate on a reduced timetable starting next Tuesday.<br />The city is also considering a move which would prevent subways from running after 11PM, one hour earlier than the current timetable.<br />Also, all classes in middle and high schools in Seoul will be carried out online for the next two weeks.<br />As for kindergartens and elementary schools, they will still be able to open but only at around 30% capacity for in-person learning.<br />The city also plans to secure more hospital beds for COVID-19 patients... as there are only 8 out of 61 hospital beds left for critically ill patients in Seoul.<br />To address the shortage, 150 large shipping containers will be set up outside three hospitals run by the city.<br />Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.<br />
