The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, August 18, 2022 | 02:19
Health & Science
New COVID-19 cases soar to all-time high after Chuseok holiday
Posted : 2021-09-24 09:52
Updated : 2021-09-24 09:52
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A woman walks near a public sports facilities area taped off as a precaution against the coronavirus in Seoul, Sept. 23. AP-Yonhap
A woman walks near a public sports facilities area taped off as a precaution against the coronavirus in Seoul, Sept. 23. AP-Yonhap

South Korea's daily coronavirus cases reached an all-time high of 2,434 on Friday, breaking the previous record of 2,221 on Aug. 10. as mass migrations during the Chuseok holiday caused the rapid spread of the virus across the country.

Health authorities had expected the surge in daily virus cases after millions of South Koreans travelled to their hometowns during Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, which ran from Monday to Wednesday.

The country reported 2,434 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,416 local infections, raising the total caseload to 295,132, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The caseload surged from 1,716 on Thursday. Daily cases have stayed over 1,000 for the last 80 days amid the fast spread of the more transmissible delta variant nationwide.

Post Chuseok infection rate sees huge spike
Post Chuseok infection rate sees huge spike
2021-09-24 17:04  |  Health & Science

The country reported seven more deaths from COVID-19 on the day, bringing the death toll to 2,434.

On Friday, the Seoul metropolitan area, home to half of the nation's 52 million population, accounted for 72.3 percent of the newly confirmed domestic cases. Seoul reported 903 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province reported 704 cases. The western port city of Incheon reported 140 cases.

The bans on private gatherings were eased during the Chuseok holiday, allowing up to eight people to gather on the condition that four of them are fully vaccinated.

But the authorities tightened the restrictions, limiting the number of private gatherings to a maximum of six starting Friday.

A total of 37.1 million people, or 72.3 percent of the country's population, have received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines, and 22.6 million people, or 44 percent, have been fully vaccinated, the KDCA said.

The first-shot vaccination rate of 70 percent was achieved before the Chuseok holiday as the country has accelerated its vaccination drive.

Next Monday, the government will announce its plan to vaccinate adolescents aged 12-17 and pregnant women in the October-December period.

Also, people who have been fully vaccinated will be exempt from self-quarantine starting Friday if they don't have any symptoms despite close contact with virus patients.

Imported cases came to 18, including three from the Philippines and two from Uzbekistan. The number of patients with serious symptoms across the country reached 309, down three from the previous day.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries was 264,492, up 1,650 from a day earlier. (Yonhap)



 
LG
  • Samsung's defective washing machine fans consumer concerns
  • [INTERVIEW] Moon rallies int'l support for unification of two Koreas
  • Standard Chartered Bank chief to visit Seoul in late August
  • 'Labor law should be changed in line with Fourth Industrial Revolution'
  • Envoy raises awareness of Korea among Serbian public
  • [INTERVIEW] Data essential for 'evidence-based decisions': Statistics Korea commissioner
  • Yoon confident about Korea hosting World Expo 2030
  • What polls don't say about Yoon
  • Yoon opposes forceful change to status quo in North Korea
  • Bitcoin's role expected to expand as investors circumvent capital controls: Bithumb research chief
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert 2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert
    • 'Confidential Assignment 2' has even more action, humor 'Confidential Assignment 2' has even more action, humor
    • [INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers [INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers
    • Thriller series 'Flower Of Evil' becomes first K-drama to be remade in India Thriller series 'Flower Of Evil' becomes first K-drama to be remade in India
    • 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to be made into musicals in 2024 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to be made into musicals in 2024
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group