LOC09:58
06:58 GMT
TOKYO, June 4 (KUNA) -- South Korea added 39 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday amid a steady increase in infections linked to religious gatherings in greater Seoul, bringing the nation's total infections to 11,629, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The death toll remained unchanged at 273, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Church-linked transmissions in Seoul and surrounding areas have been a new source of concern for health authorities.
A spate of cluster infections has forced health authorities to enhance quarantine measures in the metropolitan area, home to half of the country's 50 million population, which will be in place until June 14.
The government may consider going back to strict social distancing if the country's virus curve does not sharply flatten by the deadline. (end)
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