The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced 308 new cases as of Friday night, most of them in the capital and surrounding areas.

The spike in cases has exhausted hospital facilities.

`There are only about 15 hospital beds provided immediately in Seoul city, for patients in critical condition, there are many patients who are in serious condition and need to be hospitalized,` Mr. Yoon Tae-

According to KCDC data, more than 1,000 cases originated from Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul, which is the center of a new wave of infections, leading to at least 25 new clusters.

A deserted shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, August 23.

The fight against the second wave of Covid-19 is made more complicated by the continuous strike of nearly 16,000 resident doctors and interns.

The Korean government asked doctors across the country to return to work.

Although many doctors and nurses volunteered at temporary testing centers during the outbreak, major hospitals said medical examination and treatment work was still affected and delayed.

`Doctors should be by their patients’ side as we face the possibility of nationwide transmission of Covid-19. We are standing at the last line of defense to slow the spread in the region,` Mr. Yoon said.

Seoul has decided to impose an unprecedented level of social distancing: starting this Sunday, food and beverage businesses are restricted.

The resurgence of Covid-19 in South Korea brought the country’s total number of infections to exceed 19,900, including 324 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data as of August 31.