Korea reports fewer than 120,000 cases for 5th day as Omicron surge declines
A coronavirus testing center near Seoul Station Plaza is empty, April 19, as the Omicron-fueled spike in infections continues to slow.
Korea reported fewer than 120,000 COVID-19 cases for the fifth straight day Tuesday as the Omicron-fueled spike in infections continues to slow.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 111,319 cases, including 17 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 16,583,220.
The new tally is down 84,100, or 43 percent, from a week ago in an apparent sign that the Omicron variant is loosening its grip.
Since the virus peaked at 621,178 cases March 17, it has been receding.
The death toll came to 21,520, up 166 from the previous day for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent; while the number of critically ill patients came to 808, down 26.
Of the locally transmitted infections, Gyeonggi Province reported 28,557, Seoul added 18,322, and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, identified 5,435.
As of midnight Tuesday, 44.53 million, or 86.8 percent of the 52 million population, had been fully vaccinated, and 33 million, or 64.4 percent, had received booster shots, the KDCA said.
The country started to administer second COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to people over 60, four months after their first booster dose. (Yonhap)