The government of South Korea said Friday that it has agreed to partially relax current social distancing restrictions.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said that the existing curfew for dining out at restaurants and other enterprises will be extended by an hour to 10 p.m., from 9 p.m. now. Kim, on the other hand, stated that the government will continue to impose a six-person restriction on private parties.

The adjustment will take effect on Saturday, March 13 and will remain in force until then. Further adjustments, according to Kim, are possible depending on how the omicron wave grows in the future.

However, despite the significant growth in the number of people infected with the omicron strain, the government has recently made the decision to loosen social distancing restrictions.

The number of daily COVID-19 cases across the country has climbed dramatically over the course of this week, surpassing the 100,000 milestones as of midnight Thursday.

The government's decision was partly prompted by the ongoing opposition of small merchants and self-employed individuals, who have suffered financially as a result of the limitations.

As a result of the growing financial problems that small businesses and self-employed persons are experiencing, Kim believes that a modification in social distancing norms was unavoidable.

He went on to say that the government will monitor the spread of the virus over the following three weeks under the new guidelines that have been implemented.

It is possible that COVID-19 safety procedures will continue to be in effect after the three-week timeframe.

As Kim said, "the administration has chosen to maintain the social distance laws until the omicron wave hits its height and then begins to decline."

Kim predicts that the omicron wave's peak will occur between the end of February and the beginning of March, based on the most recent estimations published by specialists.

Meanwhile, Kim requested that the National Assembly study and certify the quantity of an additional budget that would be utilized to assist small merchants as soon as possible.

An extension of loan maturity, as well as a temporary suspension of debt service payments for small merchants and self-employed individuals, are also being considered by the government.