South Korea on Tuesday banned religious services in churches in Seoul and the surrounding areas due to rising numbers of coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Chung Kyun announced.
As cases among churchgoers have increased, religious services are to be streamed online.
The authorities have already imposed tighter contact restrictions in Seoul and the nearby province of Gyeonggi.
“The rising numbers triggered a chain of infections in churches, workplaces and hospitals,” Kyun said.
According to the Health authorities, in a cluster at the Sarang Jeil Church in Northern Seoul, 138 new infections were reported, bringing the total in that area to 457 known cases.
The authorities also announced a general ban on gathering of more than 50 people indoors and more than 100 people outdoors.
However, authorities reported 246 new cases across the country on Monday, taking the total number of confirmed active cases to 15,700. (dpa/NAN)