South Korea reported 219 more coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 3,150, as of 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

An inmate from a prison in North Gyeongsang Province was also confirmed as a COVID-19 case, making him the first inmate to be diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in the country.

South Korea has so far reported 16 deaths from the virus.

Here is CGTN's report from Seoul earlier. 

First case of reinfection

South Korea reported the first case of reinfection by the novel coronavirus on Saturday, according to the KCDC. 

The 73-year-old female patient, who was diagnosed with the virus earlier in the month, was released from a hospital on February 22 after making a full recovery. She was found to have contracted the illness again on Friday, said the KCDC.

Explaining the reason of the reinfection, a KCDC official said the patient may have a weak immune system due to her age. It is also possible the virus was not fully eradicated from the patient in the first place, added the official. 

More cases warned in Daegu

The local authorities have also warned that a large number of additional new coronavirus cases will be reported in Daegu, the epicenter of the virus outbreak in the country. 

The number of patients in Daegu has already surpassed the 2,000 mark, accounting for more than 70 percent of the total cases in South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency. 

The sharp increase in confirmed virus cases in the city came as authorities began intensive tests on followers of a religious sect there. Now, the number of confirmed cases of the religious sect has accounted for over 80 percent of the total number in the city.