Prognosis

South Korea Says Tightest Virus Measures May Be ‘Inevitable’

  • Record number of coronavirus cases reported for second day
  • Social distancing measures were tightened in Seoul last week

Shoppers at Namdaemun market in Seoul, Nov. 25. 

Photographer: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in said it’s “inevitable” that social-distancing measures will be tightened to the strictest level unless the country’s coronavirus outbreak can be contained.

Moon said in a meeting Sunday that the strictest Level 3 measures were a last resort, and it’s “hard to imagine how serious the damage will be” if they are imposed. Still, the government will have to make a bold decision on whether to raise the level, he said. The country confirmed 1,030 cases on Sunday, breaking the previous day’s record of 950 infections.