S. Korea extends COVID-19 restrictions to Jan. 17

South Korean health officials on Saturday extended a Level 2.5 distancing measure, the second-highest in a five-step plan, to Jan. 17 for the Seoul area. Such measures have in some cases led to the closure of casinos in the country, originally scheduled to end on Monday (Jan. 4).

Grand Korea Leisure Inc. (GKL), which operates foreigner-only casinos in Korea, said in late December that its three game venues will close until at least Jan. 4. Paradise Inc., another company that operates foreigner-only casinos in Korea, also said Paradise Casino Walkerhill in Seoul will close until Jan. 4.

South Korea has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. As of 12 a.m. on Monday, 1,020 new COVID-19 cases were added and 19 deaths were added in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's total to 64,264, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest daily tally marked a sharp increase from 657 recorded in the past 24 hours. The average daily number of new cases over the past week stood at 941, according to Yonhap.

To prevent further spread of the pandemic, South Korean authorities also decided to expand the ban on private gatherings of more than four people, which had been in place for the Seoul area, to the rest of the country.

South Korea is also tightening restrictions on foreigners entering the country after reporting 10 cases of the more contagious coronavirus variant first reported in Britain. Starting Friday, foreigners arriving at South Korean airports must present a negative coronavirus test tested within 72 hours before departure, health officials said.

BY: 슬롯사이트 순위