New COVID-19 cases above 40,000 for 2nd day
People look around Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, May 10, the second straight day for Korea's new COVID-19 cases to stay above 40,000. Yonhap
New COVID-19 cases stayed above 40,000 for the second straight day Tuesday amid the government's efforts to move the country back to pre-pandemic normalcy.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 43,925 infections, including 37 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,658,794.
The tally decreased from 49,933 recorded Monday and was down from 49,055 a week ago.
The KDCA also added 29 deaths, bringing the total to 23,491; while the number of critically ill patients fell by 15 to 383.
On May 2, the government eased its outdoor mask mandate, except for large gatherings of 50 or more, as it moves the country toward a return to normalcy. The indoor mask mandate remains in effect.
The country's daily infections have been on a downward trend in recent weeks after peaking at over 620,000, March 17, amid the spread of the Omicron variant. (Yonhap)