S.Korea reports fewer than 100 new Covid-19 cases for a third day

A worker sprays disinfectant next to a building housing the Grace River Church, where 46 people were confirmed to have the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Seongnam on March 16, 2020. - A new coronavirus cluster linked to a South Korean religious group emerged on March 16, with 46 cases at a church near Seoul that defied calls to suspend services. - AFP

SEOUL (Reuters): South Korea reported 84 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday (March 17), marking a third day in a row that the country has reported fewer than 100 new infections amid growing hopes that Asia's largest outbreak outside China may be easing.

The new numbers are well below a Feb 29 peak of 909, and bring the country's total infections to 8,320, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

The death toll rose by two to 81, the KCDC said.

Another 264 patients were released after recovering, bringing the total to 1,401, it added.

President Moon Jae-in has said he was increasingly confident South Korea would overcome the virus as the rate of new cases continued to drop, although authorities noted another large cluster had emerged in the greater Seoul area. - Reuters