SEOUL, August 09 – Additional cases of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) fell below 1,500 on Monday, due to the lower number of tests carried out over the weekend, as the country extended its anti-virus measures on stricter by two weeks, due to the relentless spread of the virus.
The country added 1,492 Covid-19 infections, of which 1,455 were local, bringing the total to 212,448, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The latest figure marks a drop of 237 from the previous day’s 1,729, a number below 1,700 for the first time since Wednesday.
The nation added four deaths from Covid-19, bringing the toll to 2,125.
Health officials have decided to extend the highest level of social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area until August 22, and other areas will remain below level 3.
The strictest measures include a ban on gatherings of more than two people after 6 p.m., a 10 p.m. curfew for restaurants and cafes, and a ban on activities in nightclubs and other places of entertainment.
Below level 3, cafes and restaurants can accept customers until 10 p.m. and only take-out and delivery services are available after this time. Private gatherings of five or more people are prohibited.
The country’s second largest city, Busan, will raise its social distancing rules to the maximum level from Tuesday through August 22, as new infections have jumped there in recent weeks.
The move came amid concerns over the rapid spread of the virus during the Liberation Day long weekend, Saturday through Monday, and the start of the second school semester later this month.
The fourth epidemic wave began to hit the Seoul metropolitan area in early July and spread to other areas, with a daily toll above 1,000 for 34 days in a row.
Since the country began its vaccination program at the end of February, a total of 20.93 million people, or 40.8% of the country’s 51.3 million inhabitants have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. .
About 15%, or 7.72 million people have been fully immunized, according to KDCA data.
Authorities plan to administer a first dose of the vaccine to 36 million people, or 70% of its population, by September in order to achieve collective immunity in November.
Advance bookings for vaccinations for people aged 18 to 49, estimated at some 16 million, begin Monday.
Of the local cases, 414 were reported in Seoul, 402 in Gyeonggi Province and 65 in Incheon.
Busan City reported 121 new cases, and South Gyeongsang Province confirmed 87 new infections.
Imported cases which also include South Korean nationals returning from abroad, reached 37.
The total number of people released from quarantine after fully recovering was 186,242, 1,239 more than the day before.
(Yonhap)
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