South Korea reports local infections

APD NEWS

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South Korea is the latest country to report new locally transmitted infections after virtually eliminating the coronavirus.

A further 48 cases were confirmed on Sunday, most of which were local infections, as the country tries to curb outbreaks in the capital Seoul and Daejeon, two of the country's largest cities. Imported cases of the virus have fallen.

The increase brings South Korea's total caseload to 12,421, a relatively low number by international standards. No new deaths were reported, so the total remained 280.

The country has been praised for its aggressive test-and-trace regime, which has been credited with keeping infections down to manageable numbers.

But as the country eased its lockdown in April, clusters of infections began to take root once again in cities.

In late May, authorities had to reimpose some lockdown measures after a spike in cases in Seoul, a city of almost 10 million people. Those restrictions were lifted on 14 June.

(BBC)