SEOUL, Sep 19 (Yonhap) – Additional cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) fell below 2,000 on Sunday due to the lower number of tests carried out over the weekend, but concerns over a possible Transmissions rebound after the Harvest Festival, Chuseok, intensifies as several million people travel across the country to reunite with family members.
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The country has reported 1,910 new cases of Covid-19, including 1,871 local infections, bringing the total number of cases to 285,931, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
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The country added 10 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the death toll to 2,404. The death rate was 0.84%.
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Sunday’s figure came after the country reported more than 2,000 local infections for two days.
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Daily cases remained above 1,000 for the 75th consecutive day, amid the rapid spread of the more contagious Delta variant across the nation.
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Health officials will remain on high alert as the spread of the virus could affect more other areas after Chuseok’s five-day holiday, which will take place until next Wednesday.
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Authorities urged people to minimize travel and gatherings during the holiday. They also plan to apply special measures, including screening centers at motorway rest areas, for two weeks until September 26. They seek to increase the vaccination rate in order to reduce exposure to the virus.
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A total of 34.67 million people, or 71% of the country’s population, have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 22.12 million, or 43.1% have been fully vaccinated, reported the KDCA. South Korea aims to fully immunize 70% of its population by the end of October.
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Among the new local cases, 732 infections were reported in Seoul, 544 in Gyeonggi province, and 180 infections in Incheon, KDCA said.
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Busan, the country’s second largest city, added 44 infections, while Daegu reported 47 new transmissions.
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