Seoul, Jun 29 (IANS): Dozens of South Korean Defence Ministry officials have been put into self-isolation after a three-year-old boy, who attended a Ministry-run day care centre, tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Monday.

The boy was confirmed to have the COVID-19 virus on Sunday following the infection of a teacher at the nursery located inside the Ministry compound in central Seoul, the Yonhap News Agency quoted the officials as saying.

"The child's parents tested negative," deputy spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik said.

"As a preventive step, however, we ordered colleagues of his father to be in self-isolation for two weeks starting Monday."

As the boy's father works at the Ministry's main building, officials carried out disinfection work at major facilities of the building, including the briefing room, according to the spokesperson.

The day care centre was shut down on Saturday after the first patient was reported.

A total of 214 kids had attended the centre, and most of their parents are Ministry officials or service members.

"Tests are under way for all attendees, and if necessary, their parents. We will continue to thoroughly monitor the situation and take necessary steps," Yonhap News Agency quoted Moon as saying.

As of Monday, the total number of infections among the military population stood at 58. Of them, 54 have completely recovered, according to the Ministry.

Currently, 18 service personnel are quarantined in accordance with health authorities' guidelines. In addition, military authorities have put 989 members in isolation as a preventive step, it added.

South Korea added 42 more new coronavirus cases Monday, raising the total caseload to 12,757, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).