South Korea has said it will reinstate social distancing rules a month-and-a-half after lifting them under a 'living with Covid-19' policy, as spiralling numbers of both new infections and serious cases threaten to overwhelm its medical system, Reuters reports.

Curbs will return from Saturday to January 2, limiting gatherings to no more than four people — as long as they are vaccinated — and forcing restaurants, cafes and nightly entertainment facilities to close by 9pm and movie theatres and internet cafes by 10pm, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said.

Unvaccinated people can only dine out alone or use takeout or delivery services.