SEOUL, Oct. 16 (BNA) New cases of COVID-19 in South Korea remained below 30,000 for the fourth consecutive day as infections declined in recent weeks.
The country reported 21,469 new COVID-19 infections, including 87 from abroad, bringing the total number of cases to 25,120,465, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Yonhap reported.
The country reported 32 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 28,840. The number of seriously ill people reached 247, two more than the day before.
South Korea has seen a gradual downward trend in new infections after peaking at more than 180,000 cases on August 17.
In response to dwindling infections, health authorities have relaxed anti-virus restrictions, including lifting all outdoor mask mandates and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing requirements for incoming travelers.
However, the authorities have warned of a possible outbreak of the “pandemic” of Covid-19 and seasonal flu this winter.
Of the 21,382 cases transmitted locally, Seoul reported 4,190 new infections, while Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital added 6,091 cases. The port city of Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul, has identified 1,281 new cases.
SM