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| Terminal One of Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, is seen following eased virus curbs in this May 13 photo. Yonhap |
South Korea's new COVID-19 cases stayed below 30,000 for a second straight day Saturday in the latest sign that infections are on a downward trend alongside eased virus curbs.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 25,434 cases, including 26 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,782,061.
The country added 48 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 23,709, for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent; while the number of critically ill patients fell to 338 from 341 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
Last month, the health authorities eased social distancing guidelines as new infections showed signs of a slowdown after peaking at 621,178, March 17.
The government also eased the outdoor mask mandate May 2, except for large gatherings of 50 or more, as it moves the country toward a return to normalcy. An indoor mask mandate remains in effect.
On Friday, the administration announced the easing of requirements to enter the country to remove inconveniences for inbound travelers.
Starting May 23, it will recognize negative rapid antigen test results for travelers boarding flights to South Korea, on top of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results currently being accepted.
However, these tests must be carried out by medical professionals 24 hours before travel to South Korea.
Beginning June 1, international arrivals will be required to undergo a PCR test within three days of their entry into the country. Currently, the mandatory test is required on the day of arrival.
Of the locally transmitted cases, Gyeonggi Province added 5,799, Seoul accounted for 4,025, and Incheon, west of the capital saw 1,150.
As of midnight Saturday, 33.2 million people ― 64.7 percent of the population ― had received their first booster shots, while 3.47 million (6.8 percent) have had their second, the KDCA added. (Yonhap)
