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| Digital screens showing precautionary measures to take against COVID-19 are seen on a subway train in Seoul, Sept. 3. AP-Yonhap |
Daily new COVID-19 cases rose above 1,800, Friday, though the country kept tight vigilance with the extension of stringent social distancing measures ahead of a major national holiday.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,804 more coronavirus infections, including 1,776 local ones, raising the total caseload to 258,913.
The latest tally is up from 1,709 reported for Thursday ― daily new cases have stayed above 1,000 for the last two months.
Seven more deaths from COVID-19 were recorded, raising the toll to 2,315, the KDCA said, with a fatality rate of 0.89 percent.
The health authorities have been stepping up anti-virus efforts as the pandemic has shown few signs of abating due in large part to the spread of more transmissible COVID-19 strains, including the Delta variant.
Ahead of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, which takes place from Sept. 18 to 22, the government decided to keep its current distancing measures ― Level 4 in the greater Seoul area, which is the highest in a four-tier system, and Level 3 in other regions ― through Oct. 3.
But some of the restrictions will be eased.
The country has been banning gatherings of more than four people nationwide, but the health authorities have decided to allow gatherings of up to six in the capital area, though they should include at least two vaccinated people during the daytime and four after 6 p.m.
The KDCA, meanwhile, expects the country’s daily infection tally to reach a peak of 2,300 later this month before gradually falling.
A total of 29.87 million people, or 58.2 percent of the country’s 52 million population, have received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines, and 17.48 million people, or 34 percent, have been fully vaccinated, the KDCA said.
The government plans to provide at least one jab to 70 percent of the population by the end of September to create herd immunity in November. Its inoculation program, however, has recently been challenged by a delayed supply of vaccines.
Of the newly confirmed domestic cases, 564 were in Seoul, 576 in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and 98 in the western port city of Incheon, according to the KDCA.
Imported cases, which include South Korean nationals, came to 28.
The number of patients with serious symptoms across the country reached 376, up nine from the previous day; while 230,405 were released from quarantine after making a recovery, up 1,787 from the previous day. (Yonhap)
New virus cases rise above 1,800 amid tight vigilance
Source: Buhay Kapa PH
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