South Korea reports lowest new virus infections in days

Hundreds of churches across South Korea closed ir doors Sunday and held online services as country reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in more than a week.

South Korea -- which has highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside China with 7,313 -- ded 272 new cases Sunday, far below daily increases of around 500 recently.

Two more people died, bringing death toll to 50, according to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Despite smaller rise in COVID-19 cases, we are t at a point where we can say situation has improved," said health minister Park Neung-hoo.

"Small cluster infections can emerge at any time in closed s like group facilities or religious events," KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong told reporters.

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Yoido Full Gospel Church -- largest Protestant Church in South Korea with around 560,000 registered members -- was among hundreds of churches that held online services on Sunday.

"Although it is rule to come to church for service, this is an emergency situation," said elder Kim Doo-hyung.

"Even though y are attending service from home, we have asked members to dress and worship in same manner as y would at Church," Kim told AFP.

Most of country's infections are linked to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious sect often condemned as a cult.

One of its members attended at least four services before being diagsed.

Scores of events -- from K-pop concerts to sports matches -- have been cancelled or postponed over contagion, with school and kindergarten breaks extended by three weeks nationwide. 

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