(2nd LD) S. Korea’s new COVID-19 cases dip to 80,000s; deaths hit 4-month high

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SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases fell to the 80,000 range Thursday amid a moderate declining trend, though a sharp rise in the death toll called for a continued close watch over serious cases.

The country reported 81,573 new COVID-19 infections, including 300 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 23,327,897, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

The latest tally is down from Wednesday’s 103,503 and 113,371 counted a week ago, marking a gradual slowdown of the virus wave in line with health authorities’ prediction. South Korea has seen a virus resurgence since late July with the daily cases rebounding to the six digits.

The newly reported deaths came to 112, the highest since April 29, putting the death toll at 26,876, the KDCA said. The fatality rate remained at 0.12 percent.

The number of critically ill patients stood at 555, down 14 from the previous day.

As of 9 p.m. Thursday, the country had reported 85,696 additional infections, up 5,719 from the same time the previous day and down 11,272 from the previous week, according to health authorities and provincial governments. Daily virus cases are counted until midnight and announced the following morning.

South Korea is set to lift the pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travelers starting Saturday amid the easing virus wave. A mandatory PCR test within the first 24 hours of entry into South Korea will remain in place.

Beginning next week, young people aged between 12 and 17 will be able to get Novavax vaccines, in addition to the Pfizer vaccines allowed for children and teenagers in South Korea. Currently, the Novavax vaccines are only administered to adults aged 18 and over.

The basic two-dose vaccination rate in the teenage group stands at 66.2 percent, and about 11 percent have gotten their first booster shots, the KDCA said.

Of the 52-million population, 87 percent are fully vaccinated and 65.4 percent have received the first booster shots. Around 14 percent of them have gotten their second booster shots.

Inbound travelers wait in line to take COVID-19 tests at Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s main gateway west of Seoul, on Aug. 31, 2022. (Yonhap)