Virus cases below 100, government cautious with 'holiday risk'

A COVID-19 screening facility for possible patients in front of National Medical Center in Seoul's Jung-gu District on Friday is crowded with visitors. Yonhap

South Korea reported 63 more cases of the novel coronavirus Friday, posting a double-digit daily growth for the second day in a row, while health authorities remain vigilant against possible mass infections during the Chuseok holiday this week.

The country added 63 more COVID-19 cases, including 53 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 23,952, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The daily new cases remained below the 100 mark for the second consecutive day, following the previous day's 77 infections.

As South Korea has been enjoying the five-day Chuseok holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, since Wednesday, the government is not letting down its guard in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus.

The daily new infections peaked at 441 on Aug. 27, days after cluster infections were found to be linked to a Seoul church and an anti-government rally in the capital on Aug. 15.

With tightened social distancing imposed on the greater Seoul area for weeks, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases has been hovering around 100 since early September.

The 38 new cases Tuesday marked the lowest since Aug. 11, when the country reported 34 additional infections.

Health authorities are worried that increased mobility from hometown visits and family gatherings, which are typical on the Chuseok holiday, may lead to a surge in COVID-19 as experienced after the summer vacation season.

Family members meet their relative via online during Korean Thanksgiving holiday, or Chuseok, that began earlier this week as the country's central government urged citizens to refrain from meeting in person their family members or relatives living in other parts of the country to minimize the risks of COVID-19's spread throughout the country. Korea Times file

The country also has a break from Oct. 9-11, prompting the government to designate Monday to Oct. 11 as a special period for strengthened virus curbs to better contain local transmissions.

People are asked to stay at home during the holidays, with the middle Level 2 social distancing guidelines imposed over the two-week period.

Under the current requirements, indoor meetings of 10 or more people are prohibited, while 100 or more people are banned from having outdoor events.

Meanwhile, Seoul reported nine new virus cases Friday, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province added 19, according to the KDCA.

The southeastern port city of Busan had 16 more new cases, while four cases each came from Incheon and North Gyeongsang Province.

The country also reported 10 new imported cases, remaining unchanged from a day earlier, bringing the total caseload to 3,247, the KDCA said.

Seven patients from Asian countries other than mainland China, and three people came from Europe.

On Friday, one additional death was reported, raising the death toll to 416. The fatality rate was 1.74 percent.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries increased to 21,733, up 67 from the previous day.

The number of COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition stood at 107 on Friday, according to the authorities. (Yonhap)