South Korea to restore tougher curbs against spike in COVID-19 infections

A stall-keeper works amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at an empty shopping district in Seoul, South Korea, December 16, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it will reinstate stricter social distancing rules a month-and-a-half after easing them under a 'living with COVID-19' policy, as the number of new infections and serious cases spirals.

Curbs will return from Saturday to Jan. 2, limiting gatherings to no more than four people - as long as they are fully vaccinated - and forcing restaurants, cafes and bars to close by 9 p.m. and movie theatres and internet cafes by 10 p.m., officials said.