New virus cases dip below 200 for 5th day; tougher virus curbs in greater Seoul extended

New virus cases dip below 200 for 5th day; tougher virus curbs in greater Seoul extended

By Yonhap

Published : Sept 7, 2020 - 09:45       Updated : Sept 7, 2020 - 09:47 Writer

(Yonhap)

The number of daily coronavirus cases in South Korea stayed below 200 for the fifth straight day on Monday, but health authorities remain alert over continued sporadic cluster infections across the country.(한국의 일일 코로나바이러스 환자 수는 월요일 5일 연속 200명 미만에 머물렀지만, 전국적으로 산발적인 집단 감염이 계속되어 보건 당국은 여전히 경계를 늦추지 않고 있습니다.)

The country added 119 more COVID-19 cases, including 108 local infections, raising the total caseload to 21,296, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

It marked a sharp fall from 167 additional cases reported Sunday.

South Korea has been struggling to contain a flare-up in virus cases as daily infections have been in the triple digits since Aug. 14 due to cluster infections tied to churches and a large-scale rally in central Seoul in mid-August.(한국은 8월 중순 서울 도심에서 교회와 연계된 집단 감염과 대규모 집회로 8월 14일부터 일일 감염자가 세 자릿수를 기록하면서 바이러스 감염을 막기 위해 고군분투하고 있습니다.)

New infections shot up to a five-month high of 441 on Aug. 27 but have been slowed on the stricter social distancing measures, which health authorities called a "positive" sign in the virus fight.

The country on Monday continued its enhanced social distancing scheme after it was extended by another week following an initial eight-day regulation period in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country's 51 million population.

Under the Level 2.5 measures, eating at restaurants and small eateries is only allowed until 9 p.m. Franchise coffee chains, bakeries and ice cream parlors are permitted to offer only takeout and delivery.(2.5단계 조치 하에서, 식당과 소규모 식당에서 식사하는 것은 밤 9시까지만 허용됩니다. 프랜차이즈 커피 체인점, 베이커리, 아이스크림 가게는 포장 및 배달만 할 수 있습니다.)

The country also extended its Level 2 social distancing measures across the country by another two weeks until Sept. 20 as cluster infections continued to pop up nationwide.

Of the newly identified local infections, 47 cases were reported in Seoul and 30 from Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, just west of Seoul, reported one more cases.

Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern port city of Busan adding nine cases and the southwestern city of Gwangju reporting seven new infections.

Cases traced to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections, reached 1,162 as of noon Sunday.

The church-tied cases marked the largest cluster infection after more than 5,000 virus cases traced to the minor religious sect of Shincheonji were reported in Daegu in late February and early March.

Also, 527 patients have been reported in relation to the anti-government rally in Seoul on Aug. 15.

Despite a letup in new cases, health authorities warned against any complacency on concerns that virus infections could rebound due to people's movements during the upcoming Chuseok fall harvest holiday.

(새로운 사례들이 들어왔음에도 불구하고, 보건 당국은 다가오는 추석 가을 추수감사절 동안 사람들의 움직임으로 인해 바이러스 감염이 다시 일어날 수 있다는 우려에 대해 어떠한 안일한 대처도 하지 말라고 경고했습니다.)

This year's Chuseok holiday runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. The Korean autumn harvest celebration is one of the country's biggest traditional holidays and serves as a chance for family members to visit their hometowns.(올해 추석 연휴는 9월 30일부터 10월 4일까지 계속됩니다. 한국의 가을 추수 기념일은 한국의 가장 큰 전통 명절 중 하나이며, 가족들이 고향을 방문하는 기회가 된다)

The country, meanwhile, reported 11 imported cases, with three cases coming from the Philippines and another three from India.

South Korea reported two more deaths, raising the death toll to 336. The fatality rate was 1.58 percent.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 16,297, up 151 from the previous day.

The country has carried out 2,051,297 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. (Yonhap)