코로나19 신규 확진자 197명 가운데 국내 발생 188명…나흘째 세자릿수

South Korea continues to see a second wave of cluster infections in the Seoul capital area.
Authorities are tightening measures to control the spread and urging the public to maintain social distancing.
Oh Soo-young starts us off. South Korea reported 197 new COVID-19 cases as of Monday midnight.
The country experienced a sudden surge of community infections.
According to the KCDC,... local transmissions amounted to a hundred-88 cases,... as recent cluster infections in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi-do Province continue to push up the numbers.
This brings the accumulated number of cases to 15-thousand-five-thousand-fifteen.
No new deaths were reported,... keeping the toll at 305.
Over the past four days,... South Korea has seen a growing number of COVID patients after community infections broke out at churches, a fast-food franchise, nursing homes and other public places.
Starting from Sunday, the country's social distancing policy was tightened in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province the capital area where most newly confirmed COVID-19 cases are concentrated.
This means gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and more than 100 outdoors will be restricted.
Sports games will have to proceed without audiences, and schools in areas with a high concentration of new COVID-19 cases are advised to have online classes.
Private companies will be recommended to suggest employees work from home or to work on flexible hours to limit the number of employees at the office.
On Monday, KCDC officials urged the public to refrain from leaving the house unless necessary and to maintain social distancing when outside, and take particular caution when dining at restaurants.
The nation's Prime Minister said authorities are reviewing the list of attendees at churches where cluster infections broke out.
He called on churchgoers at such venues to quickly undergo testing.
The country on Monday will begin a 'pan-governmental emergency response team' for the capital area.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.