South Korea has announced it will ramp up coronavirus restrictions across the country starting Sunday to try and control a growing outbreak.
The move came as South Korea - which had largely brought its earlier outbreak under control - reported 332 cases on Saturday, the highest daily figure since early March.
Virus curbs were tightened in the Seoul region last week but with more than 300 cases reported two days in a row, authorities expanded them to the rest of the country.
"We are at a very precarious stage where we could see the beginning of a nationwide second wave," said health and welfare minister Park Neung-hoo at a press briefing.
Controlling the spread of the virus was the highest priority, he added.
The expanded measures include restrictions on gatherings and activities including professional sports, which will be played behind closed doors again.
Public officials disinfect as a precaution against the coronavirus in Seoul, South Korea. Source: AP
All beaches around the country will also be closed from midnight.
South Korea has reported a total of 17,002 coronavirus infections with 309 deaths.
A majority of the new cases have come from the greater Seoul region - home to half of the country's 51 million people.
South Korea endured one of the worst early outbreaks outside mainland China but brought it broadly under control with extensive tracing and testing while never imposing the kind of lockdowns ordered in much of Europe and other parts of the world.
The country has been seen as a model on how to combat the pandemic with the public largely following safety health measures such as face masks.
It even started allowing limited numbers of spectators at sports games in July -- which was reversed for the greater Seoul area last week and will be reversed nationwide from Sunday.
Germany records highest number of new cases since April
The number of new people confirmed to be infected with coronavirus in Germany has risen again at a rate not seen since late April.
Over the last 24 hours, health authorities across the country recorded 2,034 new cases, bringing the total number of infections so far to 232 082, the government's Robert Koch Institute for disease control said.
The last time the number was higher was on 25 April, when 2,055 new infections were reported.
People visit the Corona Test Station at the Central Bus Station Berlin Source: EPA
Nationwide, there has been a large number of smaller outbreaks, which are connected to events including large family celebrations, according to an RKI report on Friday.
As well, coronavirus cases have been identified in travellers returning from abroad, especially in younger age groups.
Germany's epidemic reached its peak in early April, when cases were rising by over 6,000 daily.
The numbers had been falling since late July, but that trend has reversed recently, stoking fears of a second wave of infections.
However, the spike also comes in the wake of a significant rise in testing.
According to the RKI, 9,267 people have died in Germany in connection with Covid-19, and around 206,600 people have recovered after catching the virus.
Total India cases nears three million
India has recorded another 24-hour jump in coronavirus infections as the disease spreads across the country's southern states, after plateauing in the capital and the financial centre of Mumbai.
India's Health Ministry reported 69,878 new cases on Saturday, bringing the total to 2,975,701. Globally India has been reporting the biggest daily rise in cases for 18 consecutive days.
Some 2.2 million people have recovered from the disease in India since the first case was diagnosed in late January.
India has the third-highest caseload after the United States and Brazil, and its 55,794 deaths give it the fourth-highest death toll in the world.
With AFP
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
