South Korea is testing 10,000 people for the virus each day.
South Korea reported 74 new cases of coronavirus on Monday which marks the first time in over three weeks that the number of new cases have dropped to double digits.
Infections peaked on 29 February when 909 new cases were reported but the number of new cases has been declining slightly ever since.
South Korea has the highest number of cases in Asia after China, now has a total to 8,162 confirmed infections and 75 deaths.
But Kwon Joon-wook, director of the National Institute of Health, stressed that the drop does not mean it’s time for celebration and said “it is no time to feel relieved.”
He attributed the drop in new cases to the completion of testing related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, of which account for over 61% of cluster infections in the country.
Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr, the South Korean Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-wha, said she believes South Korea’s extensive testing has been key to the low coronovirus fatality rate in the country.
South Korea is testing around 10,000 people each day for the virus, by far the highest rate anywhere in the world, with over 250,000 people being tested so far.
She said for the third day in a row the daily number of those recovered exceeded that of new confirmed cases since South Korea’s first case was confirmed on 20 January.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared the hardest hit provinces in the country as “special disaster zones”.
It marks the first time the country has declared an area a special disaster zone due to an infectious disease.
The move means that residents can be exempted from taxation and utility payments while also makes them eligible for restoration expenses.
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