South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit 4-month low amid efforts for return to normalcy

People look around a direct trading market at the Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul, May 15. Yonhap

Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to their lowest level in nearly four months for Sunday amid a slowing virus trend giving a boost to efforts for a return to normalcy.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 13,296 new infections, including 28 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,795,357.

The count is the lowest since the 13,005 reported for Jan. 26.

The Omicron wave spread rapidly across the nation early this year, peaking at more than 620,000, March 17, before marking a steady decline to the current level.

The KDCA also recorded 35 deaths, raising the total to 23,744, for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent.

The number of critically ill patients reached 345, up from the previous day's 338.

The government is expected to decide whether to further relax COVID-19-related restrictions, particularly the seven-day mandatory quarantine requirement for confirmed patients.

Officials had set a four-week interim period to give time for preparations before shifting medical and other relevant procedures under a post-pandemic scheme, when they downgraded the infectious disease level for COVID-19 late last month. The interim period ends this Friday.

The administration began to allow Pfizer's Paxlovid oral COVID-19 pill prescriptions for children age 12 and under with underlying diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular, renal and respiratory illnesses. MSD's Lagevrio is allowed for those with underlying diseases aged 18 and over.

The oral treatments had only been prescribed to elderly patients aged 60 and over, people aged 40 and over with underlying illnesses and those with weak immune systems.

As of midnight Sunday, 44.56 million, or 86.8 percent of the population, had completed the full two-dose vaccinations, and 33.22 million (64.7 percent) had received their first booster shots. A total of 3.46 million people have had their second booster shots, the KDCA said. (Yonhap)

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