South Korea’s Ministry of Health said in a press release on Saturday that South Korea is extending social distancing rules for two weeks until January 31.

The ministry added that the ban on gatherings of five or more people will continue until the end of January.

Seoul metropolitan area was below the social distancing level of 2.5, the second highest, since early December, while the rest of the country was at level 2, the third highest.

Under current rules, eating in restaurants in Seoul and surrounding areas is prohibited after 9 PM, and spectators are prohibited from attending sporting events.

Social distancing measures are due to end on Sunday. But while the number of new daily cases is decreasing, the Health Ministry said the risk of a resurgence remained.

Health Minister Kun Deuk Cheol said the government will review levels of social distancing once daily cases drop to 400.

South Korea cases: The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said in a press release on Saturday that the country had reported 547 domestic and 33 imported infections on Friday. This brings the total number of reported cases in South Korea to 71,820.

Another 19 patients died, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,236.

The Ministry of Health has set a special quarantine period for the first half of February in anticipation of an increase in traffic during the Lunar New Year Festival next month.

Intercity trains will only be allowed to fill 50% of the seats, while visits to nursing facilities will be prohibited.