The South Korean government will ban gatherings of five or more people at restaurants nationwide, and order shutdowns of winter sports venues and tourist hotspots in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 ahead of the holiday season.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Tuesday, reservations and entries of five or more people will be prohibited at all restaurants from Thursday until January 3.

Businesses that violate the ban face a fine of up to three million won while visitors face one of up to 100-thousand won.

Authorities strongly advise the public to cancel private events involving more than four people ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday, while ordering the closure of banquet rooms.

Nearly 180 winter sports facilities, such as ski resorts, sled parks and skating rinks, as well as tourist destinations, including sunrise spots along the East Coast and Seoul's Namsan Park, will all be closed.

Religious facilities will have to hold regular services virtually and suspend all other events and meal provisions. Movie theaters will close at 9 p.m. 

The measures come after municipal governments in the Seoul metropolitan area announced the gathering ban set to take effect on Wednesday.