New virus cases remain in 2,000s despite beefed-up vigilance
People wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a testing center in Songpa District, Seoul, Oct. 1. Yonhap
Daily new COVID-19 cases stayed in the 2,000s here Friday, but the authorities are maintaining their close monitoring with the extension of stringent coronavirus curbs ahead of back-to-back extended weekends later this month.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 2,248 new COVID-19 infections, including 2,221 local ones, bringing the total caseload to 316,020.
There were seven more deaths from COVID-19, raising the toll to 2,504.
The latest tally was down from 2,486 reported the previous day and 2,564 for Wednesday, however, the daily infection count has stayed in the 2,000s since Sept. 24.
The country's fourth wave of the pandemic has worsened following the Chuseok holiday, the Korean autumn harvest celebration, last week, with daily new cases reaching a record high of 3,273, Sept. 25.
To stem the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday that the country will maintain the current social distancing measures, which restrict the number of people in private gatherings, for two more weeks starting Monday.
The greater Seoul area has been under Level 4 distancing measures, the highest in the country's four-tier system, since July, while other areas are under Level 3.
Under current rules, cafes and restaurants in the capital area are allowed to open until 10 p.m., and gatherings of up to six people are allowed in the capital area after 6 p.m. if four of them are fully vaccinated.
The extension of the restrictions comes before two extended weekends this month, which could further fuel the spread of the virus. Authorities have been striving to stabilize the pandemic situation, as they seek a "recovery to normal life" later this year when the vast majority of the population will be fully vaccinated.
A total of 39.58 million people, or 77.1 percent of the country's population, have so far received their first shots of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 26.57 million people, or 51.8 percent, have been fully vaccinated, the KDCA said.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 785 cases were reported in Seoul, and 757 in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
New cases from overseas arrivals, which include South Koreans, came to 27.
Patients with serious symptoms across the country were tallied at 336, up 13 from the previous day, while the number of people released from quarantine after making a recovery was 277,092, up 1,516. (Yonhap)