New virus cases under 100 for 5th day; virus fight still in peril over cluster infections in S Korea

The country added 58 more COVID-19 cases, including 41 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,333, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The figure marked a drop from 76 daily cases reported Monday and 91 from Sunday. It was also the lowest since 47 added on Friday.

Health authorities say that despite the overall slowdown in the new cases, sporadic cluster infections are still lingering throughout the nation, with additional infections being reported from various places including nursing homes and supermarkets.

South Korea has been operating the lowest Level 1 social distancing scheme since Oct. 12, as the daily increase of COVID-19 patients is at a manageable level.

As South Koreans have gradually returned to their daily routines, the country also eased the attendance cap at schools, previously set at one-third at elementary and middle schools, to two-thirds for all schools.

The country, which operates a three-tier alert system, adopted the Level 2 social distancing scheme in August as cases tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and an anti-government rally piled up.

During the period, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people were strictly prohibited, while high-risk facilities such as bars and karaoke rooms were ordered to fully shut down. Such regulations were lifted last week on the condition that infection prevention measures are strictly followed.

While health authorities had been concerned that the country may face a new wave of pandemic as millions of South Koreans traveled across the nation over the fall harvest Chuseok holiday, no significant uptick in the number of new cases was observed during the period.

Over the past two weeks, around 14 percent of the total cases reported here had unknown infection routes. The proportion of cluster infections reached 26 percent, KCDA data showed.

Of the newly identified local infections, 11 cases were reported in Seoul, 22 cases in Gyeonggi Province and three cases in the western port city of Incheon.

The southern port city of Busan added one more case.

New virus cases in a rehabilitation hospital in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, surged to 59 as of Monday, up eight from the previous day.

Another hospital in northern Seoul has reported 67 cases so far, and a nursing home in southern Seoul has reported 73 COVID-19 cases.

The number of patients in critical or serious condition came to 71, down seven from the previous day.

Imported cases reached 17.

South Korea reported three more deaths, raising the total death toll to 447.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,466, up 98 from the previous day.