The Korean health authorities decided to curb or suspend operations of temporary Covid-19 screening sites across the nation, as the strong typhoon Hinnamnor was expected to land in the southern coast of the peninsula on Tuesday morning.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDA), 33 temporary Covid-19 testing sites -- 25 in Seoul, three in Incheon, two in Busan, one in South Gyeongsang Province, one in Daegu, and one in Gwangju – will suspend the operation or reduce the operation hours on Tuesday.

PCR tests are available at 594 sites including public health centers and hospitals’ testing facilities, and 68 temporary testing sites, across the country.

However, about half of the temporary screening places will close to brace for Hinnamnor.

The 25 testing sites in Seoul will close on Tuesday, and three in Incheon will close from Monday through Wednesday. Two in Busan will close on Monday and Tuesday, and one in Daegu will not operate until Tuesday. One in South Gyeongnam and another in Gwangju will also close until Tuesday.

Korea set up temporary Covid-19 testing sites with tents and containers in places with large moving populations.

“We made this decision because the typhoon could easily affect the structure of these testing sites and sample collections,” an official at the KDCA said.

“While Korea is under the influence of the typhoon, people should refrain from using temporary testing sites and take the PCR test at a public health center or a private medical institution.”

On Monday, the nation’s new Covid-19 cases hit the lowest for a Monday tally in six weeks, with the viral spread abating.

Korea added 37,548 new Covid-19 infections, including 286 from overseas, and the total caseload marked 23,606,740, the KDCA said.

The Monday daily cases were the lowest for Monday since 35,853 on July 25.

On Saturday, the nation lifted the mandatory pre-departure Covid-19 testing for inbound travelers but people still have to take a PCR test within the first 24 hours of entry into Korea.

Despite the ebbing Covid-19 cases, the number of severe cases and deaths remain high in Korea.

Korea reported 562 critically ill patients with Covid-19 on Monday, up by 14 from the previous day.

The number of critically ill cases has exceeded 500 every day since Aug. 24.