FILE PHOTO: A man and children wearing masks to protect themselves against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walk through Han River Park in Seoul, South Korea, April 4, 2020. REUTERS / Heo Ran / File Photo
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea reported 113 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, the largest single-day rise in nearly four months, and authorities warned that the upward trend could continue as people with the disease enter the country from abroad.
More than three-quarters of the latest reported infections were imported, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
“Every day, we feel a sense of crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet reached its peak,” KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook said in a briefing.
South Korea has reported a total of 14,092 cases and 298 deaths from the pandemic. The 113 infections on Saturday were the highest since March 31.
About 16% of all infections in the country have been imported, with about 70% of those Korean citizens.
Two South Korean military planes arrived from Iraq on Friday, carrying 293 workers who were evacuated as cases in that country increased.
Kwon said Saturday that 71 of those people were infected with COVID-19 and another 11 people were being retested.
“There are likely to be similar cases like this Iraq case anywhere in the world, and (South Korea) will repeat the same move, so we urge people to keep that in mind when looking at the numbers of confirmed cases.” Kwon said.
A large number of crew members on a Russian ship have also tested positive, Kwon said.
Heekyong Yang Reports; William Mallard and Jane Wardell Edition
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