S. Korean gov't to announce changes to social distancing guidelines on Saturday

신규확진 513명, 나흘째 500명대 유지…오늘 거리두기 막판 조정 For the past few days, South Korea has been seeing the number of new COVID-19 cases stay in the five-hundred range. With the recent drop in cases, the government plans to announce this weekend, changes to its current social distancing measures. Han Seong-woo reports. South Korea reported 513 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the fourth day in a row the figure has stayed in the 500s. 484 of the new infections were locally transmitted with Seoul and the surrounding area accounting for more than 320 of them. Cluster infections at nursing homes and religious gatherings continue to add to the nation's total tally... now at over 71-thousand. The BTJ Center for All Nations, a missionary facility in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, is now reportedly responsible for over 700 cases. Recent daily figures have been stable though and officials are mulling over what changes can be made on the current social distancing guidelines. "We understand that public health and the livelihoods of many families are on the line... so we'll do our best to make the wisest possible decision." The changes, which will come into effect next Monday, are to be announced on Saturday along with special rules for the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays... but many of the current prevention measures, including the ban on gatherings of 5 or more people, are expected to be kept in place. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also warned against groundless gossip surrounding the safety and purpose of vaccinations to begin in the country next month. Meanwhile, recent research conducted by health authorities on 40 adults found that those who recover from COVID-19 can later experience aftereffects including hair loss, shortness of breath and in some cases, even decreased lung function. Han Seong-woo, Arirang News. #COVID19 #infection #SouthKorea 📣 Arirang News(Facebook) :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Arirang News(Twitter) :   / arirangtvnews   📣 News Center(YouTube) :    / newscenter_arirangtv   2021-01-15, 12:00 (KST)