South Korea drop in virus cases

Seoul

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 50 on Tuesday for the first time since early August, but the country remains vigilant against possible cluster infections during a major holiday this week.

The country added 38 more COVID-19 cases, including 23 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 23,699, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), South Korean News Agency (Yonhap) reported.

The daily new cases are the lowest in 49 days since August 11, when the country reported 34 cases, just before a new cluster of infections emerged from a church and an anti-government rally in Seoul on August 15.

Daily new local infections also stayed in double digits for the fifth straight day after the country reported 95 on Friday, 49 on Saturday, 73 on Sunday, and 40 on Monday, the KDCA said.

"Daily new local infections are on a downward trend, and new (local) infections have also stayed in the double-digits for five straight days," Second Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said in a government response meeting. "However, the country should not be at ease, as virus tests by private medical facilities tend to be fewer on the weekend than weekdays."

Health authorities said the country's coronavirus reproduction rate came below one, apparently on the back of a strengthened social distancing campaign. The rate reflects the number of people that a single patient can infect.