So far, nine people have died after contracting MERS and confirmed cases are at 122. One of the new cases includes a pregnant woman.
More than 3,800 people in South Korea have been under quarantine in efforts to curb the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome. But patients from the most-affected hospital are near the end of their mandatory quarantine period and health authorities are watching for whether they can be cleared this week.
A health care worker in a full hazmat suit exits a patient's room at the Seoul Medical Center where eight people with MERS is being treated.
Also 641 people have been released from quarantine after they tested negative for MERS.
The situation has led South Korea's central bank to unexpectedly cut interest rates, out of concern that an outbreak of MERS will dampen growth and spending.
The Bank of Korea is trimming its key interest rate a quarter percentage point to 1.5% as "there are concerns following the MERS outbreak about contractions in domestic demand activities such as consumption and in economic sentiment," a statement released Thursday read.
South Korea has been struck by the largest outbreak of MERS outside Saudi Arabia, where the virus was discovered. According to scientists, South Korea could have more cases before the outbreak is fully contained.
"We can expect to see further cases in the coming days and that will happen until everybody that has been infected, has not had the opportunity to transmit to other people," said Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, a World Health Organization scientist.
"As soon as people are identified as cases and isolated immediately, we should see decrease in cases."
