South Korea's new COVID-19 cases remain below 10,000 for 6th day

People walk holding umbrellas near Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul on a rainy Wednesday. Yonhap

New COVID-19 cases remained below 10,000 for the sixth consecutive day Tuesday amid the country's efforts to return to pre-pandemic normalcy.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 9,435 infections, including 104 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,248,479.

Daily infections have shown a downward trend after posting an all-time high of over 620,000 in mid-March. On Sunday, daily new cases dropped to 3,828, the lowest since the 3,094 recorded Jan. 11.

There were nine additional deaths, the KDCA said, bringing the toll to 24,399 with the fatality rate remaining steady at 0.13 percent.

The number of critically ill patients stood at 93, down from 98 the previous day, it added. (Yonhap)