Korea's new COVID-19 cases over 60,000 for 5th day,

A public health facility for coronavirus tests set up in Seoul's Yongsan District, Dec. 9. Yonhap

New COVID-19 cases stayed above 60,000 here for the fifth consecutive day Friday amid lingering concerns of another surge as the government mulls easing its indoor mask mandate.

The country reported 62,738 new COVID-19 infections, including 61 from overseas, bringing the cumulative total to 27,674,163, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

Friday's tally is slightly higher than the previous day's 62,734 and over 9,000 higher than a week earlier, KDCA data showed.

The government earlier said it will decide whether to lift the indoor mask mandate, the country's last remaining COVID-19 restriction, by the end of this month, based on various factors, including caseloads, deaths and hospitalizations.

Daily caseloads are expected to continue on a slow incremental trend for the time being. The KDCA, however, did not rule out the possibility of another virus wave this winter.

The country added 54 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the toll to 31,029.

The number of critically ill patients stood at 428, down 14 from the previous day. (Yonhap)