Seoul: South Korea posted the second highest number of Coronavirus on Sunday, even though Covid-19 curbs were extended and high vaccination rates, increased further deployment concerns during the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays.
The country recorded 7,630 new cases on Saturday, the Control Agency and Prevention of Korea (KDCA) said, above 7,009 cases reported the day before and approached the mid-7,848 record recorded.
South Korea in mid-January extended a harder social distance rule for three weeks, including 9 nights at night hours for restaurants, cafes and bars, and limitations at private meetings, ahead of the holiday starting on Saturday.
Tens of millions of Koreans throughout the country usually traveled during the Chinese New Year for family gatherings during one of the country’s main holidays.
South Korea has recorded 733,902 Covid-19 and 6,540 infections of death, KDCA data shows, although almost 95% of adults have been fully vaccinated and more than half after receiving booster shots.
To contain a rapid spread of viruses, health officials have required evidence of vaccination and amplifiers to gain access to most public facilities, but the court decided that large shops and adolescents must be excluded while from the mandate of the Covid vaccine pass.