South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to below 500 again on Friday due to fewer tests amid cold weather despite a continued rise in clusters tied to religious facilities, which has put health authorities in more prudent mode about relaxing virus curbs, Yonhap reported. The country added 469 more COVID-19 cases, including 445 locally transmitted infections, raising the total caseload to 77,395, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure was down from 497 on Thursday. The daily new cases stood at an average of 430 over the past week, rising from the 300s the previous week, due to clusters traced to religious education facilities across the country. Of some 2,000 potential virus cases related to 40 religious education facilities affiliated with IM missionary society based in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, a total of 340 confirmed cases were reported from the facilities, according to the health authorities. Due to a continued rise in cluster infections from religious facilities, authorities pushed back their decision on whether to extend or ease the current social distancing measures to the weekend. Health authorities are expected to decide the level of social distancing measures over the weekend, but they appear to be very cautious in sharply lowering the level ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday slated for Feb. 11-13. Level 2.5, the second highest in the country's five-tier scheme, has been applied in the greater Seoul area since early December, with Level 2 in other areas. Bans on gatherings of five or more people have been in place across almost the entire country. Meanwhile, Vietnam reported 34 new COVID-19 infections in its latest coronavirus outbreak, which began and has spread to five northern cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Reuters cited the country's Ministry of Health as saying in a statement. Of the new cases, 32 were detected in Hai Duong province, the epicenter, and two in neighboring Quang Ninh province, the ministry added. — SPA
