New daily COVID-19 cases stay in 1,900s for 3rd day amid concerns over further spike

South Korea's daily COVID-19 infections continued to stay around 2,000, Friday amid concerns over yet another potential coronavirus spike after the public holiday running through early next week. Yonhap

Daily COVID-19 infections continued to stay around 2,000, Friday amid concerns over yet another potential coronavirus spike after the public holiday running through early next week.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,930 infections, including 1,860 local cases, raising the cumulative caseload to 222,111. Daily cases are counted until midnight and announced the following day.

Friday's tally was down by 60 from 1,990 counted the previous day.

Four more deaths were also reported bringing the toll to 2,148,

Despite the toughest distancing measures in place, new daily cases have been in the four digits for 39 days, including Tuesday's record high of 2,223. South Korea reported its first case in January last year.

Concern is growing that the current spread of the virus could amplify into a massive outbreak, as people are likely to engage in more activities over the three-day National Liberation Day holiday running through Monday.

In a nationwide address Friday, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum urged citizens to minimize travel and stay home with their families during the long weekend to prevent transmissions. He warned of stern action against any mass rallies in violation of distancing rules.

The greater Seoul area and the southern port city of Busan are under the highest Level 4 distancing that effectively bans private gatherings, with most other areas under Level 3.

Efforts to curb the pandemic have been hindered by the rise in Delta variant infections and the slow vaccination process due to shipment delays.

As of Saturday, 22.23 million people, or 43.3 percent of the 51.3 million population, had received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines, the KDCA said.

Fully vaccinated people stood at 9.55 million, or 18.6 percent.

The vaccine setbacks have raised doubts over the government's plan to achieve a first-shot inoculation rate of 70 percent by September and herd immunity by November.

Of the locally transmitted cases, 510 were reported in Seoul, 560 in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and 76 in the western port city of Incheon. Busan reported 150.

Seventy cases came from overseas arrivals, including 18 South Korean nationals.

The number of people released from quarantine after making a recovery stood at 193,778, up 1,530 from a day earlier. (Yonhap)