The number of daily Covid-19 cases in South Korea exceeds 8,000 for the first time

Today, the daily total number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea surpassed 8,000 for the first time, as the highly infectious Omicron strain spreads swiftly despite the recent expansion of tight social-distancing measures to reduce infection.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recorded 8,571 cases yesterday, surpassing the previous high of 7,848 in mid-December.

The new record occurred despite fewer testing over the weekend and the emergence of the more transmissible but less lethal Omicron variant, which became widespread in the country last week.

South Korea reintroduced stricter distancing measures in December, as the record number of daily cases and severely ill patients threatened to overwhelm the country’s medical system before the Omicron wave hit.

Daily totals were nearly halved to roughly 4,000 this month, but began to recover last week due to Omicron infections, reaching their second-highest level on Saturday.