South Korea has decided to maintain the current social distancing restrictions in the greater Seoul area until January 3, not raising them to the highest Level Three despite a spike in COVID-19 cases. 

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said on Sunday that Level Two-point-Five distancing, the second highest in the country's five-tier COVID-19 alert system, will remain in effect in the capital area.

The rest of the country will remain under Level Two restrictions until January 3. 

Health authorities said they will watch the COVID-19 situation over the next week, carry out a comprehensive review of social distancing measures and make adjustments before January 3.   

Under the Level Two-point-Five restrictions, gatherings of more than 50 people are banned, but more stringent antivirus measures are already in place, including a nationwide ban on private gatherings of five or more people. 

Extending the current distancing rules, the authorities announced toughened measures on fast-food chains, banning them from offering tables to customers buying only beverages or desert. 

Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol urged citizens to persevere a little more and avoid private gatherings, stressing that the country is still in a precarious state.