South Korea’s daily new coronavirus cases stayed below 100 for the third consecutive day Tuesday as the country’s virus fight is at a critical juncture ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the Korean version of Thanksgiving. Millions are set to travel across the nation next week to celebrate the five-day holiday.
The country added 61 more COVID-19 cases, including 51 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,106, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Tuesday’s daily tally marks the lowest number since Aug. 13 when the comparable figure was 56.
The new virus cases also mark a further drop from the 82 and 70 cases reported Sunday and Monday, respectively.
The country’s new daily infections had been in the triple digits since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally, until falling below 100 over the weekend.
On Sunday, the government decided to extend nationwide virus curbs for another week on concerns that the spread of the virus may worsen again during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.
South Korea also celebrates a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11 to celebrate the Korean alphabet.
Under the decision, the country will maintain the Level 2 social distancing scheme, which has been under way since late August, until Sunday. After that, the government will implement a two-week special virus infection preventive scheme.
South Korea operates a three-tier social distancing system.
Under the second level, all indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, while the ceiling is 100 for outdoor meetings.
The country also restricts operations of high-risk facilities, such as bars, clubs and karaoke establishments, under the Level 2 social distancing scheme as well. Public facilities, such as museums and libraries, are also closed.
Health authorities warned that a massive migration of people during the upcoming holiday will “surely” cause another wave of the nationwide pandemic, urging people to stay home over the autumn harvest holiday.
Normally, millions of South Koreans travel across the nation to meet their families and relatives.
South Korea already has been announcing preventive measures for Chuseok, including banning people from eating at highway gas stations. Train operators will sell tickets for window seats only.
Of the additional locally transmitted cases, 20 came from Seoul, and 14 were reported from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
Incheon, located west of Seoul, added two more patients.
Infections tied to last month’s anti-government rallies came to 619 as of Monday.
An online retailer based in southern Seoul reported 13 COVID-19 patients. Ten more patients were also traced to a residential building in the area, raising the total to 24 as of Monday.
In Busan, three more patients were reported from Dong-A University, raising the total number of related cases to 12.
The number of patients in serious or critical condition came to 164, up three from the previous day.
The number of imported cases came to 10.
The death toll rose by three to 388.
A total of 20,441 people have been released from quarantine after making full recoveries, up 193 from the previous day.
SOURCE: The Korea Herald