S. Korea reports 33 new coronavirus cases

- S. Korea reports 33 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 14,456

- 1 additional coronavirus deaths, death toll at 302

- 54 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 13,406

South Korea reported 33 more cases of the new coronavirus Wednesday due to a continued rise in local infections coming in from overseas and locally transmitted cases.

The new cases, including 18 imported cases, raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,456, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

The number of new COVID-19 cases had been in the 30s since Friday, when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number briefly fell to 23 on Monday.

Of the local infections, six were reported from central North Chungcheong Province. The virus cases are believed to be tied to a religious gathering in Cheongju, 137 kilometers south of Seoul.

Some 340 people, mainly foreign nationals, are believed to have attended an Islamic service on Friday. Six Uzbeks were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after attending the gathering.

Seoul reported five more cases, followed by Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital city with two, the KCDC said.

As of noon Tuesday, a total of 12 cases have been traced to a coffee shop and a restaurant, both of them located in southern Seoul, up two from a day earlier, the authorities said.

Of the imported cases, 11 were South Koreans and seven foreigners. Six of them tested positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while 12 others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.

The daily number of imported cases has increased by a double-digit number for 41 consecutive days.

The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,500 in South Korea.

The country reported one more additional death, with the death toll standing at 302, according to the KCDC.

The KCDC said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.09 percent.

The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,352, up 72 from the previous day.

South Korea has carried out 1,598,187 tests since Jan. 3. (Yonhap)