Anchor: The daily COVID-19 increase in South Korea climbed back up to the 400s after reports of an infection cluster at an unaccredited international school in the central city of Daejeon. While the prime minister called for a prompt and thorough response, the COVID-19 situation this week is expected to determine whether authorities further extend current social distancing levels that are set to end on Sunday.
Choi You Sun reports.

Report: The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said as of 12:00 a.m. Monday, 437 additional people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the country's cumulative total to 75-thousand-521.

The daily increase has stayed in the 300s and 400s the past week, with infections in the Seoul metropolitan area totaling 176 on Monday, falling below 200 for the first time since November 19.

Cases outside the capital region, however, spiked to 229, after 127 students and teachers were confirmed in connection to an unaccredited international school run by a religious group in the central city of Daejeon.

While there are 159 students and teaching staff at the combined middle and high school, the school reportedly violated various quarantine regulations.

The 120 students have stayed in dormitories accommodating as many as 20 people since January 4, and many of them had to share bathrooms. There were also no partitions installed at the cafeteria.

Instead of having students experiencing symptoms get tested, school authorities isolated them, albeit only after classes were finished.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed grave concern over the situation in Daejeon, calling for a thorough primary response to prevent an outbreak similar to one that emerged from the Shincheonji religious sect last year.

Chung also ordered an inspection of similar dormitories at alternative schools nationwide and to put forth necessary quarantine measures.

President Moon Jae-in, meanwhile, was scheduled to be virtually briefed by the Health Ministry and KDCA on Monday afternoon, regarding the nation's COVID-19 response and planned vaccination program.
Choi You Sun, KBS World Radio News.