The South Korean government cautiously assessed that the third wave of the COVID-19 epidemic is gradually subsiding.

Yoon Tae-ho, a senior Health Ministry official, said on Friday that the daily infection surge is continuously declining, albeit slowly, citing that the average daily increase in local cases for the past week dropped to the 700s.

The official, however, said health authorities remain vigilant due to winter seasonal factors and new strains of the coronavirus that are reported to be up to 70 percent more contagious.

He also urged the public to maintain vigilance until the current Level Two-point-Five social distancing in the capital area and Level Two elsewhere in the country are set to end on January 17.

Health Ministry spokesperson Son Young-rae said the government believes the daily surge should drop further to between 400 and 500 or less before easing distancing rules.