South Korea's disease control chief expects daily COVID-19 cases to range from 600 to 700 next week.

In a Monday briefing, Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA), said the virus reproduction rate was about one last week and is projected to drop to zero-point-88 this week, calling it an encouraging situation.

She, however, added there is a limit to predicting patient numbers solely based on the reproduction rate because the caseload can fluctuate if a mass outbreak occurs. 

The rate refers to the number of infections caused by one patient. A figure above one means the disease is spreading. Authorities have been aiming to reduce the rate to below one.

On Monday, South Korea reported fewer than 500 new cases, the lowest in more than 40 days.