SEOUL (Reuters – South Korea’s finance minister announced Friday that the government would prepare a new stimulus package of 4.3 trillion won ($3.6billion) to support self-employed and small-sized businesses affected by COVID-19’s reimposition.

The total package would include 3.2 trillion won to give 1,000,000 won to each of the 3.2 million owners of small businesses that have experienced a decline in sales.

Prime Minister said Thursday that stricter social isolation rules will be reinstated in the country a month and a half after they were eased under a “living with COVID-19” policy. The move was made as serious infections continue to rise.

From Saturday through Jan. 2, curbs will be back. This means that restaurants, bars and cafes must close at 9 p.m. while movie theatres or internet cafes have to close at 10 p.m.

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 7,435 cases on Thursday. This is close to the previous record of 7,850.

The Friday stimulus package is coming weeks after parliament approved an unprecedented 607.7 trillion won budget in 2022. This was to help a faster economic recovery and those affected by the pandemic.

($1 = 1,184.9700 won)