Game on: South Korean football and baseball seasons restart this week as officials loosen lockdown measures after containing death toll to 250
- Gatherings permitted ‘under condition that they follow disinfection measures’
- Resumption of soccer and baseball seasons coincides with lifting of restrictions
- South Korea recorded 10,793 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 250 deaths
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Sports events like football and baseball will resume in South Korea this week, as the nation prepares to ease social distancing measures.
The resumption of soccer and baseball seasons in South Korea also coincides with a lifting of coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday.
But Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a government conference Sunday that gatherings will only be permitted ‘under the condition that they follow disinfection measures.’
The easing of social distancing measures is in large part due to a continued drop in new coronavirus cases in recent days.
Pictured: Yang Eui-ji of NC Dinos (South Korea) against the Lotte Giants at the KBO (Korea Baseball Organisation) Exhibition in Changwon, South Korea, April 21
‘Gatherings and events will be permitted under the condition that they follow disinfection measures’ – Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. Pictured: A player from NC Dinos, against the Lotte Giants
South Korea implemented strict social distancing directives in March after the nation saw one of the worst early outbreaks of the disease outside China.
South Korea has recorded 10,793 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 250 deaths, according to recent data from Johns Hopkins University.
Since South Korea introduced social distancing in March, scores of entertainment and sports events were postponed or cancelled.
Religious services were also suspended.
However, as the nation’s number of new cases tails off, ‘everyday life’ activities could resume on Wednesday (May 6), according to a report in The Straits Times.
Pictured: A screen telling passengers about precautions against coronavirus, at the Seoul Railway Station, in South Korea
Pictured: Two women wearing face masks and walking across the courtyard at Gyeongbok Palace, in Seoul, South Korea
Pictured: People sitting exams and observing social distancing rules at Daegu Exhibition & Convention Centre, South Korea, on May 2
Pictured: People outside a Catholic church in South Korea on May 3, wearing face masks and observing social distancing measures
South Korea appears to have been successful in bringing the numbers under control because of a widespread ‘trace, test and treat’ initiative that has been widely praised.
It reported just 13 new infections on Sunday, according to the Korea Centres for Disease Control.
As a result, some sports, including football and baseball, which are due to begin their new seasons this week, will be permitted to resume, albeit behind closed doors.
‘South Korea will implement the everyday life quarantine scheme starting Wednesday,’ Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said.
‘Gatherings and events will be permitted under the condition that they follow disinfection measures.’
The South Korean government will also announce this week dates when students will be able to return to school.
This is expected to be mid-May, according to Yonhap News Agency.