Restaurants, cafes, singing rooms and other entertainment facilities in the greater Seoul area will be allowed to stay open until midnight from next month, while limits on operating hours are lifted on all other businesses, including spas and gyms.

The health ministry said the eased measures are part of a revised social distancing scheme that will take effect in July.

The government has been devising new measures aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19 while helping small businesses that have been hit hard by related restrictions.

A 10 p.m. curfew for restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, gyms and public saunas is being enforced under current Level 2 distancing rules.

The revamped distancing scheme will have four levels, down from the current five, and will minimize closures of multiuse facilities.

The ministry, however, did not mention any changes to the ban on private social gatherings, but officials earlier hinted that the ceiling could be raised to eight.

More details of the new plan will be announced next week, at the earliest.