As of 9:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), the number of infected patients totaled 2,022, up 256 from the previous day. The death toll was unchanged at 13.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has updated the data twice a day at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time.

Of the new patients, 182 were residents in Daegu, about 300 km southeast of the capital Seoul, and 49 came from its surrounding North Gyeongsang province.

The total number of infections in Daegu and North Gyeongsang province increased to 1,314 and 394 respectively.

The virus infection soared in recent days, with 1,735 new cases reported on Feb. 19-27. The country raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level on Sunday.