SKorea bans large gatherings as virus battle intensifies

South Korea is banning large gatherings, shutting night clubs and churches, and removing fans from professional sports events in unprecedented restrictions announced Saturday as it battles the spread of the coronavirus.

Health Minister Park Neung-hoo announced the steps shortly after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 332 new cases in the ninth straight day of triple-digit increases.

“We are now in a very dangerous situation that could trigger a massive nationwide spread of COVID-19,” Park said.

The national caseload is now at 17,002, including 309 deaths.

While most of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, which has been at the center of the viral surge in recent weeks, infections were also reported in practically every major city and town, raising concerns that transmissions are slipping out of control.

The government has already imposed elevated social distancing measures in Seoul this week after resisting them for months out of concern for the economy.