The South Korean government has begun to enforce a set of tougher quarantine measures ahead of the year-end holiday season, including a ban on gatherings of five or more people at restaurants nationwide.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the special quarantine measures will be enforced from Thursday until January 3 and local municipalities cannot adjust them. 

Restaurants 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 and parties involving more than four people ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, with these events and gatherings already banned from Wednesday for the greater Seoul area. 

Religious facilities across the nation will have to hold regular services virtually and suspend all other events and meal provisions. 

Movie theaters will close at 9 p.m. and food tasting at department stores and large supermarkets will be banned. 

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 as well.