Daily virus cases rebound to above 4,000 amid Omicron concerns
Medical workers wearing protective gear prepare to collect samples at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic in Seoul, Dec. 31. AP-Yonhap
Daily COVID-19 infections rebounded to above 4,000 for the first time in three days for Tuesday, putting the health authorities on high alert over a possible resurgence amid Omicron concerns.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 4,444 new cases, including 4,233 local ones, raising the total caseload to 649,669.
Tuesday's figure was up 1,420 from a day earlier, but down 963 compared with the same day last week.
The KDCA also recorded 57 more COVID-19 deaths, raising the toll to 5,838. The figure was slightly higher than the previous day's 51 deaths.
The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients was the lowest in two weeks at 953, with critical cases staying below 1,000 for the second straight day.
In early November, the government eased long-enforced antivirus restrictions as part of efforts to return to normalcy in phases under the "Living with COVID-19" strategy.
Daily cases, however, soared to a record high of 7,848, Dec. 15, prompting the government to re-impose a set of revised virus restrictions for two weeks, which were supposed to end Sunday.
Amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the government extended the social distancing rules for two weeks through Jan. 16. These include a four-person cap on private gatherings nationwide and a 9 p.m. business hour curfew on cafes and restaurants.
The health authorities still remain on high alert as the country reported its first cases of deaths connected to the Omicron variant, Sunday. Health experts predict Omicron will become the dominant variant here in one or two months.
As of Wednesday, 42.7 million people, or 83.2 percent of the country's 52 million population, have been fully vaccinated, and about 19.3 million, or 37.7 percent, have received booster shots, the KDCA said.
On Monday, South Korea introduced a six-month validity period for the COVID-19 vaccine pass that is required for access to multiuse facilities. (Yonhap)