 |
| A medical worker gestures to guide people as they wait for a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap |
The number of COVID-19 infections in South Korea reached a new high Friday, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant continued to spread rapidly across the country.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 54,941 new cases, including 53,797 local ones, raising the total to 1,294,205.
This marks the third day in a row that the daily tally exceeded the 50,000 level ― 53,926 cases were reported for Thursday.
The health authorities have warned that the figure could reach 170,000 by around the end of the month, though it is too early to say if this will be the peak of the Omicron surge.
The death toll from COVID-19 came to 7,045, up 33 from Thursday. (Yonhap)
![[INTERVIEW] With unusual nicknames and backgrounds, MIRAE eyes becoming next big K-pop star](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/a90499098326402996d8c5cead6e84a4.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Jean-Michel Othoniel's glass garden of enchantment 'is for everybody'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/23ab8b1dce9543b4b92d5ae550edb579.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Park Hae-soo talks about differentiating his character in 'Money Heist' remake](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/a736b6bc1d3e45b1bfa5017078a81d4d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/AFGHAN0001_e064cf8b60c94.JPG/dims/resize/268/optimize)
