The Seoul metropolitan region on Aug. 30 implemented tougher measures for social distancing amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and raised the alert level to 2.5; the measures will remain in effect until Sept. 6. (Jeon Han)

By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae 

City buses in Seoul will see a 20% reduction in operations from Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. to Sept. 6 at midnight.

The capital's 325 bus lines running at night -- excluding the 20 busy and nine late night and 240 of community shuttles -- will see a decrease in the number of operations from 4,554 to 3,644.

Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup on Aug. 30 told in a briefing that the city government designated the period of Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 a "standstill week" for the some ten million residents of the capital.

The city announced the reduction in bus operations after raising the social distancing alert level in the capital to 2.5 due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, mainly in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon.

Level 2.5 requires strengthened restrictions at high-risk facilities and venues and is just before the more stringent Level 3. The heightened measures took effect at midnight on Aug. 30 and will remain so for eight days through midnight on Sept. 6.

During this period, cafe chains like Starbucks can only offer takeout or delivery orders. Eating at restaurants and bakeries is allowed from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., after which only takeout and delivery orders are permitted. These limitations do not apply to small, privately run cafes.

All indoor sports facilities were ordered closed such as gyms, golf driving ranges, billiards halls, bowling alleys and swimming pools.

Quarantine measures for children and teens took effect at midnight on Aug. 31. All hagwon (private educational institutes) in the capital can only run online classes regardless of the number of teachers or students. Study rooms and cafes must also remain closed.