국내 코로나19 확진자 58일만에 10명대...정 총리 '황금연휴 외부활동•여행 가급적 자제'

We begin with an update on the COVID-19 situation here in South Korea.
The country continues to see a slow recovery,... with the daily number of confirmed cases dropping below 20 for the first time in almost two months.
Kim Jae-hee reports.
South Korea confirmed 18 new coronavirus cases on Saturday,... marking the first time in 58 days that the number of daily cases dropped below 20.
"We have 18 newly confirmed patients,... which is the first time in about two months that the number has fallen below 20. A total of 141 people have been confirmed with the virus this week,... which is only around 40 percent compared to those confirmed last week, and a quarter of the week before that."
Out of the 18 newly confirmed cases, 9 were imported cases.
This brought the country's total infections to 10-thousand-653,... with the death toll at least 232.
Over 7-thousand-and-9-hundred people in the nation have fully recovered and been released from quarantine.
Despite the downward trend,... South Korea's Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Saturday expressed concerns over the upcoming holidays set to begin at the end of April.
Buddha's birthday falls on April 30th, and is soon followed by Labor Day on May 1st, and Children's Day on May 5th.
"It may be possible to take a maximum of 6 days off of work. I'm concerned that the social distancing citizens have practiced so well until now may be affected during the period."

The Prime Minister urged citizens to refrain from outdoor activities during the holidays,... and stressed the need to keep practicing social distancing.
He also thanked the medical workers for their commitment and sacrifice to the nation, and for helping the country to contain the virus spread.
With the gradual decline in the number of confirmed cases in the country,... the South Korean government plans to announce on Sunday whether it'll open up more facilities and ease some of the legally enforceable restrictions.
The recommendation for social distancing of two meters,... would, however, remain in place.
Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.