 |
| People pass by a banner giving information on COVID-19 testing in Itaewon, a popular tourism district in Seoul, Oct. 15. AP-Yonhap |
Daily new COVID-19 cases stayed in the 1,600s for the second consecutive day Friday, as the government plans to relax social distancing rules, starting next week, ahead of a gradual return to "normal" life.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,618 more coronavirus infections, including 1,594 local ones, raising the total caseload to 340,978.
The latest tally was down from 1,684 cases reported for Thursday and 1,940, Wednesday. The daily infection count has stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7 and in the 1,000s for eight consecutive days.
The country added 18 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,644.
On Friday, the government announced a set of eased social distancing rules as South Korea prepares for a "Living with COVID-19" plan next month, in which the virus will be treated as an infectious respiratory disease, like seasonal influenza.
Under the plan that will take effect Monday, the greater Seoul area ― home to half of the country's population of 52 million ― will remain under the toughest social distancing of Level 4, while the rest of the country will be under Level 3.
However, the government will allow social gatherings of up to eight people, up from the current cap of six, in the greater Seoul area after 6 p.m. if four of them are fully vaccinated. The relaxed curb will be applied to all multiuse facilities, including cafes and restaurants.
A maximum of 10 people, including six fully vaccinated people, will be allowed in other regions.
The KDCA said 40.33 million people, or 78.5 percent of the country's population, have received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines and the number of fully vaccinated people stands at 32.81 million, or 63.9 percent.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 585 were reported in Seoul, 579 in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, and 103 in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul.
The number of new imported cases came to 24.
Patients with serious symptoms numbered 361 nationwide, down 10 from the previous day, the KDCA said.
Those released from isolation and treatment after making a recovery came to 308,187, up 2,336 from a day earlier. (Yonhap)
![[INTERVIEW] 'We want to help Korean dancers build global fandoms'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/29062fa43a724ca19a39d4140a0c73d6.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
