코로나19 신규확진 615명…정부 "수도권은 이미 전시상황"<br /><br />Our top story this lunch time.<br />South Korea has reported over 600 new COVID-19 cases for two days straight.<br />Given the seriousness of the situation, the country's health minister even went so far to say that the capital is facing a "wartime situation."<br />South Korea recorded 615 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.<br />Most of those came from the capital region with 422 from Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon.<br />Health minster Park Neung-hoo at a meeting on Monday said that even though fewer people were tested over the weekend, the number is still high.<br />He stressed that the capital region is in a 'wartime situation' and said that the daily caseload could reach over a thousand in about a week or two.<br />Starting on Tuesday, strengthened nationwide distancing measures will be applied for three weeks.<br />The capital region will be under level 2-point-5,... which will ban gatherings of more than 50 people.<br />It also means that 130-thousand businesses will be shut across the capital area... and 460-thousand businesses will have limited operations.<br />Bars, singing rooms and indoor sports facilities are to be shut... while supermarkets, malls and hair salons can only stay open until 9 PM.<br />The rest of the country will be at level 2.<br />This means places like singing rooms and sports facilities can open until 9 PM and gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed.<br />The health minister warned that if the spread can't be stopped at this strengthened level,... it could lead to an explosive increase in cases and crash the medical system.<br />
