South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases above 20,000 for 2nd day
A health worker talks to a visitor before conducting a COVID-19 PCR test at a testing station in Seoul’s eastern district of Songpa on Thursday. (Yonhap via The Korea Herald/Asia News Network)
SEOUL — South Korea’s new coronavirus cases stayed above 20,000 for the second consecutive day Sunday amid growing concerns about a resurgence in infections nationwide.
The country added 20,410 new COVID-19 infections, including 250 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,511,845, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
The KDCA reported 19 more deaths from the virus, putting the death toll at 24,643. The fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent.
The number of critically ill patients came to 67, up from the previous day’s 61.
South Korea has seen a marked drop in infection numbers from the peak of more than 620,000 in mid-March, with the daily counts staying mostly in four digits in June.
But the numbers began to rise again, hitting over 10,000 on June 29 and over 20,000 on Saturday.
Health authorities confirmed that the country has entered a new wave of COVID-19, citing the fast spread of the highly contagious mutation of the omicron strains.
The government is reportedly considering a new set of antivirus measures.
RELATED STORIES
South Korea’s COVID-19 cases rebound, raise concerns over summer surge
South Korea eyes post-Omicron life, mulls ending COVID-19 isolation
South Korea removes post-travel quarantines for unvaccinated
South Korea to increase international flights to meet travel demand
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
