South Korea has reported 279 new coronavirus cases in the highest daily jump since early March, as fears grow about a resurgence in the greater capital region.
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The figures, released by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday brought the national caseload to 15,318, including 305 deaths.
The number of new cases is the highest since 367 on March 8, when the country was concentrating on public health tools and personnel nationwide to bring an outbreak in the less populated southern region under control.
The KCDC said 253 of the new cases came from the Seoul metropolitan area, home to 26 million people, where health authorities have been struggling to stem transmissions linked to churches, nursing homes, schools, restaurants and door-to-door salespeople.
Infections were also reported in other major cities such as Busan and Daegu, which was the epicentre of the previous crisis in late February and March when hundreds of new cases were reported each day.
There are concerns that the spread could worsen after thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in Seoul on Saturday despite official pleas to stay home. It appears the protests, organised by conservative activist and church groups, mainly involved people over 60, who are considered at higher risk for complications linked to COVID-19.
After resisting calls to strengthen social distancing for months because of concerns about further hurting the economy, the government of President Moon Jae-in has announced stronger measures for the Seoul area.
The two-week measures beginning Sunday advise high-risk facilities like nightclubs, karaoke bars, gyms and buffet restaurants to close or otherwise enforce distancing, temperature checks, keeping customer lists and mask wearing.
Fans are banned once again from professional baseball and soccer games, which had just begun to slowly bring back spectators in late July.
Australian Associated Press
