S. Korea reports 44 more COVID-19 cases, 13,181 in total

South Korea reported 44 more cases of the COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 13,181. The daily caseload hovered below 50 for the second consecutive day after having stayed above 60 for three days amid the continued small cluster infections and imported cases.

Of the new cases, 24 were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 1,714. It gained in double figures for 12 straight days.

Small cluster infections were still found linked to religious gatherings from churches and temples.

One more death was confirmed, leaving the death toll at 285. The total fatality rate stood at 2.16 percent.

A total of 66 more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, pulling up the combined number to 11,914. The total recovery rate was 90.4 percent.

Since Jan. 3, the country has tested more than 1.34 million people, among whom 1,309,338 tested negative for the virus and 23,675 are being checked.