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South Korea is struggling to contain a third wave of Covid-19, as new infections surged to more than 500 on Thursday for the first time in eight months.
The country added 583 more cases, 553 of them locally transmitted infections, bringing the total number of cases to 32,318, according to the Korea Agency for Disease Prevention and Control, Yonhap reported.
The new high has passed the second wave peak in August, which hit 441, and has been attributed to cluster infections from private gatherings, public facilities, hospitals and the military.
The fact that the escalation could not be contained is concerning for the East Asian nation, which has been globally credited with its robust response to the pandemic.
Authorities have stepped up social distancing measures ahead of a decisive national college exam next Thursday, which is seen as so important to the future of students that planes have been grounded in the past to help them focus.
“We are now in a situation where virus outbreaks can occur anywhere we live,” said Health Minister Park Neunghoo. “With the third wave of infections increasing in size and pace, we must strictly follow the rules of social distancing.”
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