신규확진 682명, 이틀연속 700명선 위협…중환자•사망자 급증<br /><br />We start with the worsening virus situation in the country.<br />South Korea reported almost 700 new COVID-19 cases for the second straight day on Thursday, with majority of them in the greater Seoul region.<br />To improve testing, the government will have some 1-hundred-50 temporary testing facilities set up in and around the capital.<br />Kim Jae-hee reports.<br />South Korea on Thursday reported 6-hundred-82 new cases of COVID-19.<br />It marks the second day in a row that the number has been close to 7-hundred.<br />Of the new cases Thursday, 6-hundred-46 were locally transmitted, with 489 from Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do Province.<br />These include cluster infections at restaurants, bars, singing classes, marketplaces, as well as medical institutions and nursing homes.<br />Only 36 were cases from overseas.<br />South Korea's total caseload, including patients who have recovered, is now more than 40-thousand.<br />In light of the alarming situation in the capital, the South Korean government on Wednesday said it'll set up some 1-hundred-50 temporary testing facilities in Seoul and its surrounding areas to step up testing for the next three weeks.<br />To encourage people to drop by, authorities say visitors can get tested anonymously.<br />The only requirement is giving their cell phone number.<br />Concerns are also rising over the uptick in the number of very sick patients, and the number of deaths.<br />The critically ill have increased by 23 to 1-hundred-72, and eight additional deaths were reported on Thursday, bringing the national death toll to 5-hundred-64.<br />This comes despite stronger social distancing measures that took effect on Tuesday.<br />Level two-point-five the second highest measures for the capital area.... and level 2 for other regions.<br />If the uptrend continues, experts warn new cases could hit a thousand a day in the coming weeks, or even days.<br />In such a case, the government would consider raising social distancing measures to the highest possible tier: level 3.<br />Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.<br />
