( 4 th LD ) S . Korea faces growing risk of virus spike in greater Seoul , cluster infections in focus ( ATTN : ADDS more info in paras 11 - 12 , 4 th photo ) SEOUL , June 9 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea is teetering on the brink of losing momentum in its virus fight , as cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area could fuel further community spread amid eased social distancing , health authorities warned Tuesday . The country added 38 new cases , including 35 local infections , raising the total caseload to 11 , 852 , according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) . It marked daily new cases of below 40 for the second straight day , and a decrease from 57 cases a day earlier and 51 on Saturday . All but two of the locally transmitted cases were reported from the Seoul metropolitan area . Virus cases in the capital area accounted for nearly 97 percent of the 313 locally transmitted infections reported since June 1 , according to the KCDC . In Seoul alone , total virus cases surpassed the 1 , 000 mark for the first time . This photo , taken on June 9 , 2020 , shows a sign about school closure on the front gate of an elementary school in Incheon , west of Seoul , as a virus case was reported . ( Yonhap ) South Korea has been wrestling with multiple , sporadic cluster infections tied to religious gatherings , nightclubs and a logistics center in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area after the country relaxed its social distancing scheme on May 6 . " Quarantine authorities have ( viewed cluster cases ) with a sense of crisis , " KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon - wook said in a briefing . " We are on edge due to the possibility that mass infections could take place at schools , medical institutions , nurseries and welfare facilities at any time , " he noted . Infections traced to a warehouse run by e - commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon , just west of Seoul , reached 139 as of noon . Those linked to small churches in the densely populated metropolitan area reached 88 , and cases tied to Seoul ' s nightlife area of Itaewon hit 277 . Virus cases linked to a door - to - door business retailer and sports - related facilities have emerged as new infection clusters , spawning concerns over further community spread in the metropolitan area . COVID - 19 cases tied to the door - to - door business establishment reached 68 as of noon . Those linked to a table tennis gym in southwestern Seoul came in at 51 . In southeastern Seoul , an assistant cook at the cafeteria of a private educational institute was confirmed to be infected , prompting some 450 people -- students , teachers and workers -- to undergo tests . The cook visited a table tennis club and has shown symptoms since Wednesday . According to health authorities , at least nine cases have been traced to a shelter for Korean - Chinese people in western Seoul . Health workers conduct coronavirus tests on citizens at a makeshift test site in front of a church tied to Korean - Chinese people in Seoul ' s southwestern ward of Guro on June 9 , 2020 . ( Yonhap ) Health officials remain on high alert over yet another infection cluster in the capital area , as such facilities for foreign migrants appear to be a blind spot in quarantine efforts . Singapore , once touted as a role model in coping with the pandemic , saw a sharp rise in virus cases tied to lodging facilities for foreign migrants . At least six cases have been also traced to a day care center for senior citizens in Gwangmyeong , just south of Seoul . " If we fail to break the chain of cluster infections at an early date , it is worrisome that mass infections may pop up in the densely populated area , " Sohn Young - rae , a senior health official , said in a briefing . The string of cluster infections in Seoul and nearby areas came as the country completed its phased reopening of schools Monday , giving the go - ahead for students to return to their classrooms . But concerns about cluster infections at schools linger , as hundreds of schools in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province have delayed their reopening due to virus cases . The education ministry said 520 schools across the nation suspended their reopening as of 10 a . m . Most of them are in the Seoul metropolitan area . This photo , taken on June 9 , 2020 , shows Lotte World Adventure , an amusement park in Seoul ' s southeastern ward of Songpa , which reopened following a temporary closure after a coronavirus patient visited the theme park . ( Yonhap ) The country ' s eased social distancing scheme is in peril in the face of a steady rise in new cases . South Korea has decided to beef up quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area , shutting down public facilities and regulating entertainment establishments until June 14 . After nearly six weeks of strict social distancing , the country switched to its " everyday life quarantine " scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out economic and social activities under quarantine rules . Health authorities said they have yet to consider returning to the strict scheme . The country , meanwhile , added three imported cases and reported two more deaths , bringing the total death tall to 276 . The fatality rate was 2 . 31 percent . The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10 , 589 , up 26 from the previous day . The country has carried out 1 , 035 , 997 tests since Jan . 3 . Students , teachers and workers are tested for the new coronavirus at a private educational institute in southeastern Seoul on June 9 , 2020 , after an assistant cook at its cafeteria was confirmed to be infected . About 450 people at the private school were ordered to undergo tests . ( Yonhap ) sooyeon @ yna . co . kr ( END )