All casinos in the South Korean capital of Seoul have been closed for at least two weeks as part of efforts to curb an increase in Covid-19 infections in and around the city of 9.7 million.
New cases of the potentially deadly virus have been tracking at 300 or more per week nationwide, about one-third of those in Seoul. In response, the city government has raised the region’s risk level to “Level 2,” which requires the suspension of operations at the city’s casinos, which are restricted by law to foreign passport-holders.
The four properties affected are Grand Korea Leisure’s Seven Luck casinos in Gangnam and at the Gangbuk Millennium Seoul Hilton and Paradise Company’s Paradise Walkerhill casino and Paradise City casino in nearby Incheon.
Grand Korea Leisure confirmed on its web site that it was suspending operations “in accordance with the second stage of social distancing in the metropolitan area.”
The closures, which apply also to nightclubs and entertainment venues, were expected to last until December 8 at the earliest, GKL said.
The restrictions also limit public gatherings to a maximum of 30 people and sporting events to 10 percent of normal capacity.
