LOC09:24
06:24 GMT
TOKYO, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- South Korea added 382 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the country's total caseload to 31,735, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The country reported three additional deaths from COVID-19, raising the total count of mortalities to 513, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
Among the new local infections, Seoul confirmed 139 cases and Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital reported 77.
Health authorities have called for stronger action before a nationwide college exam on December 3 as they warned a third wave of the pandemic is under way due to cluster infections from private gatherings, public facilities, hospitals and the military.
They also raised the social distancing level by one notch to Level II under a five-tier scheme in the Seoul metropolitan area for two weeks starting Tuesday.
Under the Level II scheme, gatherings involving 100 or more people are banned, while some virus-prone facilities need to suspend their business.
Restaurants are allowed to serve food until 9:00 p.m. (local time), with only takeout and delivery services available afterward. (end)
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