South Korea reports 5th COVID-19 death, total confirmed cases soar to 602

South Korea reported the fifth death due to the COVID-19 in the country, according to Yonhap news agency.

Forty six more confirmed cases were also registered on Sunday afternoon, bring the total number of the infected cases to 602.

South Korea earlier increased its alert to the highest level as numbers surged over the past three days due to a cluster of infections that emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu last week.

"The COVID-19 incident faces a grave turning point. The next few days will be crucial," President Moon Jae-in said following a government meeting on the virus. "The government will raise the alert level to the highest level according to experts' recommendations," he added. 

(With input from AFP)