(LEAD) Loose social distancing looms large as new virus cases stay low

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SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- In a sign of the containment of the new coronavirus, South Korea reported just 10 new cases Monday, but health authorities remain vigilant over the upcoming holidays, which could potentially lead to cluster infections.

It marked the fifth day in a row that the number of new infections stayed at 10 or below, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,738, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Of the newly added cases, seven were imported, raising the country's total number of such cases to 1,044. Of the imported cases, more than 90 percent were South Korean nationals.

The nation's death toll from COVID-19 rose by one to 243.

The overall fatality rate reached 2.26 percent. The figure, however, reached 23.9 percent for patients in their 80s and above.

In total, 8,764 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 47 from a day earlier, indicating more than 80 percent of the COVID-19 patients reported here have been cured.

South Korea believes it has avoided the worst scenario due to its social distancing drive despite being one of the first countries hit hard by the virus that originated from China.

The drive is still in force until May 5, but the country is likely to move toward "everyday life quarantine" after the date, which means schools and workplaces will mostly return to their normal routines.

Despite a respite, local health authorities remain alert ahead of the upcoming holidays, when people are expected to make short trips locally, as air travel overseas is virtually suspended.

South Korea will celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Thursday, followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day on May 5.

The number of new infections continued to slow in Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region that accounts for around 64 percent of the total cases, with just one additional case.

North Gyeongsang Province, which surrounds Daegu, reported no new COVID-19 infections, along with Seoul, the capital city.

Two cases were reported from Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul.

South Korea, whose population is estimated at around 50 million, has carried out 601,660 tests for COVID-19 since Jan. 3.

colin@yna.co.kr
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