South Korea has ordered schools to close from Tuesday in the capital Seoul and surrounding areas as it battles its worst outbreak of novel coronavirus since the pandemic began, surpassing the previous peak in February.

The school closure is a step towards the imposition of phase 3 social distancing rules, a move that would essentially lock down Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 718 new coronavirus cases, down from the record daily increase of 1,030 a day earlier. Of the new cases, 682 were locally transmitted, it said.

According to Reuters, South Korea’s total infections now stands at 43,484, with 587 deaths.