This photo taken on Feb. 21, 2023, shows Dongkuk University’s entrance ceremony being held at the Jangchung Arena in central Seoul amid eased COVID-19 curbs. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases stayed above 11,000 for the second straight day Wednesday amid a downward trend in recent months.
The country reported 13,082 new infection cases, including 32 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 30,458,857, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
The daily caseload slightly rose from 11,880 a day earlier but remains at low levels amid eased virus curbs.
Daily infections have been on the decline despite worries that the removal of the indoor mask mandate late last month could cause an uptick in viral infections.
Health authorities have recommended the elderly and people with weak immune systems get booster shots for protection.
The KDCA reported 14 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 33,887. The number of critically ill patients came to 186, down from 195 a day ago.
On Wednesday, the government said it will lift a requirement for travelers from China to take PCR tests after their arrival here from March 1 as the COVID-19 situation remains stable,
Despite the lifting of the post-arrival test requirement from next month, the pre-arrival test requirement will remain in place until March 10 to monitor the effect of the eased restrictions, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The move comes after South Korea resumed issuing short-term visas for Chinese visitors on Feb. 11, and China also restarted issuance of short-term visas for South Koreans on Saturday.
(Yonhap)
