국내 코로나19 신규 확진 38명...89%가 수도권
South Korea continues to see a rise in the number of COVID-19 cluster infections.
Transmissions of the coronavirus have now spread to other crowded places including churches and a popular theme park.
To prevent the so-called 'silent spread' of the virus, the city of Seoul now offer COVID-19 testing for free even to those without apparent symptoms.
Kim Dami leads our coverage tonight.
After reporting 50 new cases or more for two days in a row, South Korea has added 38 new COVID-19 infections on Monday...bringing the nation's total to 11-thousand-eight-hundred-14.
Nearly 90-percent of the new cases were local transmissions, all from the Seoul metropolitan area.
While the death toll has stayed flat for the fifth-consecutive day at two-hundred-73, the capital area continues to suffer from cluster infections.
On top of the recent churched-tied cases, a cluster infection that stemmed from a table tennis club has since spilled into another religious facility.
And, cases related to a door-to-door sales business have now crept into a local theme park and a local community shelter.
Starting Monday, all Seoul residents even those without symptoms can get COVID-19 tests for free.
Registration for testing can be done on the city's website and up to a thousand people can be tested per week.
"An increase in the number of silent spreaders is leading to a spike in the metropolitan area. That could lead to a second wave of the pandemic."
And health authorities stressed that the coronavirus can spread anywhere especially in closed environments.
"Please try not to visit enclosed areas including entertainment facilities and religious gatherings especially in the metropolitan area."
To stop even the smallest possibility of infections spreading further, Seoul city has advised hundreds of local table tennis rooms to refrain from opening from Monday.
In addition, the capital has even suspended gatherings and meetings of door-to-door sales businesses.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.
