SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) – Additional cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) jumped to more than 2,100 on Thursday, as the spread of the virus gains traction amid efforts to relax social distancing in order to return to normality.
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The country added 2,111 new cases of Covid-19, including 2,095 local infections, bringing the toll to 358,412, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
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This is the first time in 20 days that daily cases have exceeded the 2,000 mark. The daily figure was 1,952 the day before, 1,266 Tuesday and 1,190 Monday.
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Daily transmissions have remained at four digits since July 7, including the record 3,272 cases on September 25.
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The nation added 11 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total to 2,808. The death rate was 0.78%.
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The surge in infections came amid concerns the country could experience another resurgence of the virus as efforts are underway to restore normal life and transition to the ‘living with Covid’ diet on November 1.
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Some restrictions have already been eased since October 18 to allow people to gather more and some businesses to stay open longer.
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More relaxed measures will come into effect in stages and most restrictions will be lifted by the end of January 2022, although basic preventive measures, such as wearing masks indoors, will remain in effect.
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The cold weather that prompts people to stay indoors could boost cases of the virus. Calls for vigilance have increased as many people plan to celebrate Halloween this week.
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Health officials have spoken of accelerating the plan to provide booster doses to vaccinated elderly people and possibly expand age groups for vaccination to children under 12. Details are expected to be announced later today.
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About 40.97 million people, or 79.8% of the country’s population, had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. The number of people fully vaccinated stood at 36.97 million, or 72%.
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Among the local cases reported Thursday, Seoul reported 788 cases, Gyeongi Province 708 and Incheon City reported 137.
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Imported cases reached 16, bringing the toll of such cases to 15,040.
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The total number of people released from quarantine after fully recovering was 330,853, up 1,195 from a day earlier, KDCA said.
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