(LEAD) New virus cases smallest since early August, upcoming holiday crucial for virus fight

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SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- 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).

The daily new cases are the lowest in 49 days since Aug. 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 Aug. 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."

Despite the fall in new virus cases, health authorities remain vigilant ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the autumn harvest celebration, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday. Tens of millions of people are expected to travel across the country for family gatherings.

The country also has a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hangeul Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend, prompting the government to designate Monday to Oct. 11 as a special period for strengthened virus curbs.

Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays, but to better contain local transmissions of COVID-19, they unveiled more tailored guidelines last week under the Level 2 distancing in the country's three-tier scheme.

At the current level, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, and outdoor meetings of 100 or more people are also prohibited. Sports events are allowed without spectators.

By region, Seoul added 11 new virus cases, and nearby Gyeonggi Province had six new patients, according to the KDCA. It marks the first time since Aug. 11 that daily new cases from the wider Seoul area recorded below 20.

Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern port city of Busan adding three new cases, North Gyeongsang Province reporting two new cases and North Chungcheong Province with one case, the KDCA said.

Cluster infections continued at workplaces, nursing homes, churches and day care centers, especially in the greater Seoul area.

Cases traced to a nursing hospital in Seoul's northern ward of Dobong came to 27 as of Monday. A total of 28 infections were tied to a gym in Seoul's western ward of Gwanak.

The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 115, down five from the previous day, according to the authorities.

The country also reported 15 new imported cases, up from 10 a day earlier, the KDCA said.

South Korea reported one additional death, raising the death toll to 407. The fatality rate was 1.72 percent.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 21,470, up 178 from the previous day.

khj@yna.co.kr
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