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The spread of Covid-19 continues to widen in South Korea as the total number of confirmed cases in the country is nearing the 1,000 mark.

On Feb. 25, the health authorities reported 144 new confirmed cases and another two deaths.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 977.

Its death toll has hit double digits at 10.

144 new cases and 2 more deaths

According to the local news agency, Yonhap, among the 144 new cases reported on Tuesday (Feb. 25) was a Korean Air cabin crew member.

Korean Air has since closed its office at Incheon International Airport, where the staff briefing room is located.

About 70 per cent of the country's infected patients are identified in two main clusters - Shincheongji Church of Jesus and Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, a county in North Gyeongsang Province.

Of the 144 new cases, 60 were from Daegu and 56 were reported from North Gyeongsang Province.

All followers of the Shincheongji church will be tested for Covid-19. The church has agreed to provide the full list of its members, about 200,000 of them, in "full cooperation" with the government's attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The two new death cases included another patient from Daenam hospital, a 58-year-old man who died on Tuesday.

The other deceased is a 68-year-old woman who was tested positive on Monday before she died from respiratory failure. She was linked to the church cluster.

The health authorities in South Korea are stepping up their efforts to contain the spread of virus.

In just one week, the number of cases increased 30-fold from 31 to almost 1,000, Yonhap reported.

On Monday (Feb. 24), Vice Health and Welfare Minister Kim Gang-lip said that the authorities will try to stabilise the situation within four weeks.

In his first visit to Daegu, South Korean President Moon Jae-in also reaffirmed the government's commitment to focus its efforts to contain Covid-19 spread at Daegu and North Gyeongsang province.

He also said that there should be a "clear turning point" this week in the increasing number of confirmed patients in the country.

Top photo via Korean Air/ Facebook