Non-Korean nationals have made up for more than eleven percent of new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

Health authorities said Thursday that one-thousand-379 international residents tested positive for COVID-19 from August 1 to 14, taking up eleven-point-one percent of all infections.

The number has been increasing over the last eight weeks from five-point-eight percent and a majority are concentrated in the capital area at nearly 70 percent. Clusters involving foreigners hit stood at two in June, 42 in July and 22 in August.

By nationality, many were Asians including those from Vietnam, China, Thailand and Uzbekistan. It was also mostly younger folks in their 20s and 30s.

Officials noted that foreigners can be more vulnerable to contracting the virus due to poor and crowded work and living conditions, a language barrier and their reluctance to get tested due to their status as unregistered residents.

The government will come up with measures to encourage testing and support vaccinations for foreign residents.