Korea's daily COVID-19 cases exceed 300,000 for 1st time
People wait in line for COVID-19 tests at a public health center in southern Seoul, March 9. Korea's daily COVID-19 cases surpassed 300,000 for the first time Tuesday the day before voters went to the polls to pick a new president. Yonhap
Korea's daily COVID-19 infections surpassed 300,000 for the first time Tuesday the day before voters went to the polls to pick a new president amid the seemingly unstoppable spread of the Omicron variant wave.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported a record high of 342,446 new cases, including 342,388 local ones, raising the total caseload to 5,212,118.
The tally jumped from the 202,721 reported for Monday.
Daily infections exceeded the 300,000 mark just a week after topping 200,000 ― the previous record high was 266,847 reported for Thursday ― as accumulated cases also surpassed 5 million.
The surge in virus cases raised the number of COVID-19 deaths and critically ill patients.
The country added 158 more deaths, raising the toll to 9,440 for a fatality rate of 0.18 percent, according to the KDCA.
The number of seriously ill virus patients came to 1,087, up from the previous day's 1,007.
The health authorities had earlier forecast the current Omicron wave would likely peak at 354,000, March 12, but given the current trend, the virus appears to be spreading at a faster pace.
Koreans are voting Wednesday to pick a new president in the midst of the upsurge in COVID-19 cases.
Virus patients and those in quarantine are allowed to vote from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. after regular voting closes.
The state election watchdog has decided to permit them to directly put their votes into ballot boxes, as the collection of their votes in unofficial containers during last week's early voting sparked complaints of foul play. (Yonhap)