LOC09:30
06:30 GMT
TOKYO, June 5 (KUNA) -- South Korea added 39 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday with more church-linked transmissions in greater Seoul, bringing the nation's total infections to 11,668, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The death toll remained unchanged at 273, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The government has been grappling with a series of group infections tied to church gatherings, nightclubs and a distribution center in Seoul and surrounding areas, after shifting to a relaxed social-distancing scheme since May 6.
Earlier, health authorities decided to reinforce social distancing guidelines for the metropolitan area, shuttering public facilities again and ordering entertainment establishments to refrain from opening until June 14.
If the figures from the metropolitan area rise, the authorities will have to consider a return to strict social distancing. (end)
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