TOKYO, May 7 (KUNA) -- South Korea reported 525 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the country's total caseload to 126,044, according to Yonhap News Agency.
There were nine more deaths, raising the death toll to 1,860, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Of the newly transmitted cases, Seoul reported 177 new cases and Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city identified 136 new patients. Due to worries over a potential rise in new cases amid warm weather, health authorities have extended social distancing rules and a ban on private gatherings of five or more people for three more weeks until May 23. The greater Seoul area is under Level 2 social distancing, the third highest in the five-tier scheme, with non-capital regions under Level 1.5. (end) mk.aa