New COVID-19 cases below 150,000 as Omicron wave wanes

People wait in line to receive a test for COVID-19 at a testing station near Seoul Station, April 13. Yonhap

New COVID-19 cases fell below 150,000, Wednesday, amid the continuing modest decline in infections after the Omicron wave passed its peak last month.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 148,443 cases, including 35 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 15,979,061.

Excluding Mondays, when the daily counts tend to drop due to fewer tests on the weekend, the latest tally is the lowest number in about six weeks since the 138,985 recorded March 1.

The virus curve has been on a steady decline since the March 17 peak of more than 620,000 at the height of the Omicron wave.

The death toll came to 20,352, up 318 from the previous day, for a fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent.

The number of critically ill patients fell by 52 to 962.

The government is expected to announce adjustments in social distancing Friday in efforts toward a return to normalcy. The 10-person cap on private gatherings and the midnight business hour curfew on eateries and cafes are likely to be fully lifted.

Easing the outdoor mask mandate is also being discussed, although the health authorities have remained cautious about the mask-wearing rule.

As of midnight Wednesday, 44.51 million, or 86.8 percent out of the population, had fully been vaccinated with two shots, and 32.95 million had received booster shots, representing 64.2 percent, the KDCA said. (Yonhap)