Health workers face long lines of people waiting to get tested for COVID-19 as infections surge. (Photo: Yonhap)
South Korea has reported more than 1,700 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours as health authorities continued to fight a fourth wave compounded by increased summer travel and the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday confirmed 1,664 new local infections, 61 imported cases and two more virus-related fatalities.
Officials have said daily cases usually fall over the weekend and rise later in the week as more people get tested.
The country's total infection count now stands at 203,926, with 2,106 deaths.
In efforts to slow the spread of the virus, the government has been urging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity by November.
Since inoculations began in February, more than 20 million people, or 39 percent of the population, have received at least their first dose of a vaccine.
Around 18 million people aged 18-49 are scheduled to start getting shots from August 26.
Please send comments to tbsefmnews@gmail.com / copyright © tbs. Unauthorized redistribution prohibited.
