New virus cases dropped below 300 on Monday, but epidemiological experts called for the government to raise the social distancing regime to Level Three to prevent nationwide outbreaks.

The new Covid-19 cases, which stayed above 300 in the previous three days and approached 400 on Saturday, fell back to the 200 range on Sunday.

The nation reported 266 new virus cases -- 258 local infections and eight foreign arrivals -- raising the cumulative caseload to 17,665 as of midnight Sunday, the Korea Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention said. Last week’s local infections were the most massive in more than five months.

Despite the relative setback on Sunday, which some experts attributed in part to the slowed-down virus tests due to holiday, various medical groups called for the government to raise the social distancing to the highest level in the three-tier system, stressing that a preemptive move is necessary to keep Korea from falling into another nationwide epidemic.

Eom Joong-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said the government has to upgrade the social distancing to Level Three immediately.

“If more cases occur and the government toughens social distancing later, people could suffer greater damage,” he said. “It takes at least one week for the entire nation to practice a stronger social distancing. To see its effect, the nation should maintain stronger social distancing for two weeks.”

Eom proposed lifting the social distancing level to the highest Level Three, monitoring the development, and lowering the level later, stressing this method could prevent massive damage.

The general public also seems to have similar opinions. According to an opinion poll by Realmeter, 55.9 percent of respondents said that raising of social distancing to the Level Three was a "necessary step," compared with 40.1 percent who replied that the government should decide cautiously.

Health officials remained prudent on Monday, saying they are still assessing the effects of Level Two measures.

According to the health authorities, the cumulative caseload related to Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul has increased to 875. As the virus spread to various other facilities, including other workplaces and even medical institutions, the number of chain infections traced to the controversial church has also reached 112.

Those infected at the anti-government rally organized by right-wing organizations in Gwanghwamun last weekend increased to 176.

The government regards this week as a barometer to move toward the Level Three social distancing measure, which will have a severe social and economic impact on the nation.

Under the Level Three social distancing regime, all gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned and medium-risk facilities, including theaters, wedding halls, and cafes, must be closed.

In-person classes will be prohibited at schools, and 50 percent of workers at both public institutions and private companies will have to work from home, causing restrictions to daily lives.

Faced with the resurge of the novel coronavirus infection, Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo called for public cooperation to contain the virus on Monday. Park said that if the Covid-19 infection does not stop, the pain inflicted on the public and the social cost will increase to an unbearable level.

“Please cancel or postpone your travel plans. The virus could move from cities to resorts and spread back to various regions,” Minister Park said.

Meanwhile, seven among more than 9,500 police officers stationed at the Gwanghwamun rally tested positive of Covid-19.

The Korean National Police Agency said Monday that two more officers were diagnosed with infection over the weekend as a result of conducting a complete examination of 9,536 police officers. Four more officers were waiting for test results in isolated places after taking re-tests.

The nation reported eight imported cases. Three patients were from Russia, two from Ukraine, and one from the U.S., Bangladesh, and India.

Korea reported no additional death, maintaining the death toll at 309. However, more than 270 patients linked to Sarang Jeil church are said to be over their 60s. According to statistics, the fatality of Covid-19 patients older than 60 is about 11.2 percent.

The total number of fully recovered people released from quarantine reached 14,219, up 19 from the previous day. The country has carried out more than 1.8 million coronavirus tests since Jan. 3.

shim531@docdocdoc.co.kr

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