China, South Korea report fewest new coronavirus cases in weeks

China and South Korea reported their fewest new coronavirus cases in weeks Sunday, after the countries had been  hit with the earliest spreads of the coronavirus. 

China reported 16 new cases of the virus and no deaths, one of the smallest recorded daily increases since the outbreak began. South Korea confirmed eight new cases, the country’s first single-digit increase since Feb. 18, The Associated Press and Reuters reported. 

In both countries, most of the news cases came from overseas, including nine of China’s new cases and five of South Korea’s, according to the countries’ health commissions. 

The countries are also cautiously bracing for a potential resurgence, with China’s National Health Commission calling for improvement in testing capacity and quality, Reuters reported. 

More than half of China’s new cases in the last 10 days have been confirmed in the Heilongjiang province as travelers from Russia have entered, according to Reuters. Most of these branch from a case in the city Harbin, where 18 officials were punished on Friday.

In the meantime, South Korea extended its social distancing guidelines Sunday for 16 days until May 6, while allowing for more flexibility for churches and sports matches, without audiences. In March, the nation recommended churches and sports matches suspend operations. 

South Korea officials said they will reevaluate the risk every two weeks.

“It is safest to maintain the intensive social distancing, but it isn’t easy realistically. We need to find a middle ground,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a televised meeting of government officials, Reuters reported. 

Overall, China has counted 82,735 cases with 4,632 deaths as of Saturday. South Korea has confirmed 10,661 cases, leading to 234 deaths and 8,042 recoveries, according to the news outlets.