The World On arirang

South Korea on Thursday reported 121 new COVID-19 cases.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 104 cases were domestic infections the first time locally transmitted cases have gone above a hundred since September 24th.
The other 17 cases were from overseas.
This brings the total number of coronavirus infections across the nation to over 25,500.
Three more deaths were also reported, bringing the death toll to 453.

Thursday's figure is the second time the daily figures have exceeded a hundred since the country eased its social distancing measures last week.
On October 12th, social distancing guidelines were revised to level one, the lowest level in the three-tier system following a downward trend in cases.

However, there have still been cluster infections in recent weeks, mainly at nursing homes and long-term care hospitals.
As of Thursday, there have been a total of 106 cases linked to a rehabilitation hospital in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, while 84 others are tied to a nursing home in Busan.

Starting Monday, the country is conducting tests on those related to such risk-prone facilities in the greater Seoul area to contain the spread of the virus.

"On October 19th and 20th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government conducted tests on two,746 workers at 30 medical facilities in the capital. Among those, only one tested positive. Testing and tracing are being carried out at the long-term care hospital in Yeongdeungpo-gu District."

Additional cluster infections are being reported at gatherings as well.
So far, 12 people contracted the virus after a family gathering in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do Province, and at least 18 others in Seoul were reported to have tested positive after a social gathering.

Health authorities are advising the public to refrain from such social and family gatherings, and to strictly follow the country's social distancing measures.
Min Suk-hyen, Arirang News.