Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the government will be decisive, if and when it is deemed necessary to further raise social distancing to Level Three, which is the highest.

At a meeting with officials on Friday, Chung said discussions among relevant ministries, local governments and experts are underway, adding that a social consensus should also be secured to guarantee effectiveness.

The prime minister, however, said strict adherence to distancing and quarantine rules under the current levels is a priority, and that all available administrative capacity has been mobilized to raise public participation.

Chung urged authorities to clamp down on businesses that have attempted to continue operating against distancing rules after changing their business classifications only on paper, saying such acts can not be tolerated.

There have been mounting calls to heighten distancing as the average daily COVID-19 cases in South Korea over the past week stood at 934-point-four, well within the threshold for Level Three.

Over two million businesses and facilities are expected to be forced to shut down or face restrictions under Level Three, and the government is taking a cautious approach considering its socioeconomic impact.