South Korea hits new daily case record

South Korea’s daily new coronavirus cases have exceeded 13,000 for the first time

South Korea’s daily new coronavirus cases have exceeded 13,000 for the first time, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Qazet.az reports citing The Guardian.

The record of 13,012 comes just a day after the tally topped 8,000 for the first time amid a rapid spread of the Omicron variant and despite an extension of tough social distancing rules.

Omicron is likely to account for more than 90% of new infections over the next few weeks, with the daily numbers surging to 20,000 to 30,000 or more, health officials said. The variant became dominant in the country last week.

“Going forward, our top priority is to reduce critically ill patients and deaths,” prime minister Kim Boo-kyum told an inter-ministry meeting on Wednesday.