The Seoul Metropolitan Government will ease some antivirus restrictions on indoor gyms and golf driving ranges over a one-month trial period.

Disease control official Park Yoo-mi announced at a press briefing Thursday that designated gyms and driving ranges in the Mapo and Gandong districts will be allowed to stay open until midnight starting from this Saturday.

Park said the two types of establishments were chosen because they run on a membership basis, making it easier to keep track of visitors.

The city selected the two districts for the program in consideration of their good records on containing COVID-19, among other factors.

This comes as Seoul city has vowed more efforts to fight the pandemic and support small businesses hurt by coronavirus restrictions.

Businesses that take part in the trial program must adhere to strict antivirus measures, including mask wearing, preemptive COVID-19 testing and limiting the number of customers after 10 p.m.