Daily cases over 6,000 for 2nd day as Omicron woes grow

A woman wearing a face mask as a precaution against COVID-19 passes by a social distancing sign at a park in Seoul, Jan. 20. The sign reads: "Safety distance 2 meters." AP-Yonhap

Daily COVID-19 cases stayed over 6,000 for a second straight day Thursday amid growing concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 6,769 new infections, including 6,482 local ones, raising the total caseload to 719,269.

The health authorities are on high alert over a possible spike in infections as many people are expected to travel for family reunions during the Lunar New Year holiday later this month.

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The daily caseload slightly increased from 6,602 for Wednesday, when it jumped to over 6,000 for the first time in 27 days after staying below this number since Dec. 24.

Critically ill patients stood at 43, as the KDCA recorded 21 more deaths, raising the toll to 6,501 for a fatality rate of 0.90 percent.

The number of imported cases was tallied at 287, bringing that total to 22,836.

Despite the daily cases remaining high, the KDCA lifted the vaccine pass program at several kinds of multiuse facilities, including department stores, large discount stores, cinemas and cram schools, across the country Tuesday.

However, the vaccine pass remains in effect at cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, indoor gyms, karaoke establishments, internet cafes and public bathhouses, it said.

The program requires people to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results when entering these facilities. It has been in effect since November, when the number of daily infections soared to nearly 8,000.

On Monday, the government raised the limit on the size of private gatherings to six from the previous four. But it extended a 9 p.m. curfew on restaurants and cafes, which has been in place since mid-December, for another three weeks until Feb. 6.

The move came amid deepening worries over a drastic upsurge in infections as the highly transmissible Omicron variant has spread at a fast pace.

As of Friday, 43.72 million people, or 85.2 percent of the country's 52 million population, have been fully vaccinated, and 24.5 million, or 47.7 percent, have received booster shots, the KDCA said. (Yonhap)

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