New virus cases below 100 for 3rd day; holiday effect on COVID-19 spread in focus

New COVID-19 infections stayed below 100 in South Korea for the third straight day it was reported Saturday, but the health authorities remain on alert over a potential rebound in coronavirus cases after an extended fall harvest holiday. Yonhap

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 75 more cases, including 52 local infections, raising the total caseload to 24,027.

It marked a slight rise from 63 cases reported Friday but a fall from the 77, Thursday. After daily infections hit 133, Wednesday, they have declined back to double-digit figures. But the Saturday tally could have been affected by fewer tests during the holiday.

As South Koreans took the three-day Chuseok autumn holiday from Wednesday to Friday and are enjoying an uninterrupted weekend, the health authorities remain on alert over the impact on the spread of the coronavirus from the mass movement of people to visit their hometowns or travel for vacations.

During the traditional holiday, many usually travel across the country to reunite with family members.

The health authorities designated Monday to Oct. 10 as a special two-week period for toughened virus prevention measures on concerns that new cases may resurge.

New cases here have had been in triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14, with daily infections soaring to 441, Aug. 27.

But new COVID-19 cases have slowed on the back of tightened social distancing rules. The country reported 38 new cases Sept. 29, marking the first time that daily infections fell below 50 since Aug. 11.

Sporadic infection clusters and untraceable cases are still putting a strain on the country's virus fight. The government is implementing the Level 2 social distancing guidance in its three-tier system across the nation.

Of the newly identified local infections, 25 were reported in Seoul and eight in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported seven.

Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern port city of Busan adding eight and the central city of Daejeon reporting one.

The country, meanwhile, added 23 imported cases, increasing the total to 3,270.

The KDCA reported four additional deaths, raising the toll to 420 with a fatality rate of 1.75 percent.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making a full recovery stood at 21,787, up 54 from the previous day.

The country has carried out 2,339,859 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. (Yonhap)