Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called for thorough quarantine preparations before the current Level Two-point-Five social distancing in the capital area and year-end special regulations end this coming weekend.

At a meeting with officials on Wednesday, Chung cast concerns over the possibility of a further spike in COVID-19 infections from year-end gatherings and movements of people.

The prime minister stressed that the latest wave of the epidemic has become the nation’s biggest crisis, citing that some 40 percent of the country's cumulative infections were reported in the past month.

While monitoring the daily surge as well as test and medical capacities, the prime minister ordered officials to seek additional measures in consultation with local governments and experts.

Chung also called for a swift implementation of state support for privately-run hospitals and medical personnel worth some 800 billion won, which has been included in the government's latest COVID-19 relief program.