South Korea’s major casinos may be off-limits for the rest of the year as the country tries to deal with an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases. 

On Monday, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in issued a public call for more pandemic testing and better tracing as the latest batch of tests indicated a 4.2% positivity rate, up sharply from 1.2% average to date this year. New cases hit 631 on Sunday, the highest total since the pandemic’s initial wave this spring.

The surge in new infections will require more stringent social distancing limits, with the capital Seoul and surrounding areas subject to tough new rules through at least the end of this month. That spells more financial pressure for casino operators Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) and Paradise Co Ltd, both of which have venues in Seoul. 

On Monday, GKL announced that its two Seven Luck Casinos in Seoul, which were forced to close in late November, would remain shut through at least December 29. GKL’s casino in Busan, which shut last week, will also remain closed through at least December 29.