The Central Disease Control Headquarters has assessed the risk level of COVID-19 in the second week of December as "very high" for not only the capital area but also for the rest of the country. 

The non-capital region, assessed as being at medium risk in previous weeks, has also been raised to the highest level for the first time. 

It's the third straight week of a "very high" evaluation for the nation overall and the fourth week for Seoul and its surrounding areas.

In a Monday briefing, authorities said the continuing virus surge is increasing pressure on the medical response capacity.

Senior health ministry official Son Young-rae said officials will monitor the situation on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week before deciding whether additional society-wide quarantine measures should be considered to contain the outbreak.