New cases bounce back above 1,800 despite stepped-up vigilance
People wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a testing center in Seoul Station, Aug. 7. Yonhap
Daily new COVID-19 cases climbed back to over 1,800 for Friday amid few signs of the situation improving, despite the government extending stringent anti-virus measures.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,823 infections ― including 1,762 local ones ― up from 1,776 for Wednesday and 1,704, Thursday, and raising the total caseload to 209,228.
There were three more deaths from COVID-19, raising the toll to 2,116 with a fatality rate of 1.01 percent.
As infections have steadily cropped up across the country, the government decided to extend its Level 4 distancing measures ― the toughest in its four-tier system ― for the Seoul metropolitan area until Aug. 22, while other regions will remain at Level 3.
The daily caseload has remained above 1,000 since July 7 due to outbreaks centered in the greater Seoul area. Cases outside the capital have also risen amid increased activities in the summer vacation season and the highly transmissible Delta variant.
Since South Korea kicked off its vaccination program in late February, a total of 20.7 million people, or 40.5 percent of the country's 52 million population, have received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines.
Around 15 percent, or 7.68 million people, have been fully vaccinated, according to KDCA data.
The country aims to administer a single vaccination shot to 36 million people, or 70 percent of its population, by September with hopes of reaching herd immunity in November.
In the latest domestic tally, Seoul reported 498 cases, the surrounding Gyeonggi Province added 501, and the western port city of Incheon confirmed 90.
There were 61 cases from overseas arrivals, which included South Korean nationals.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making a recovery was 183,789, up 1,737 from a day earlier; while there were 377 patients in critical condition, up one. (Yonhap)