S. Korea's Daily Virus Caseload Nears 800 Again As Cluster Outbreaks Continue

Reporter Rosyn Park ㅣ 2021-04-23 12:31

(Photo: Yonhap News)

South Korea reported nearly 800 additional coronavirus cases on Friday as cluster infections continued to mount along with untraceable cases, hampering the country's virus fight.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
confirmed 797 new cases -- 758 local infections and 39 imported from abroad -- raising the total caseload to 117,458.

Three more virus-related fatalities were also recorded in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 1,811.

While the daily tally has been on an upward trend, the number of untraceable cases also hit a high, accounting for 29 percent of all new infections in the past two weeks.

The government, meanwhile, has been scrambling to secure more COVID-19 vaccines to boost the nationwide inoculation drive.

More than 2 million people have been injected with their first dose of a vaccine as of Thursday.

Over 79,000 have received two doses.

Currently, 204 vaccination centers are in operation, but by next week, 264 centers will be up and running.

Health authorities aim to administer jabs to 3 million people by the end of this month and 12 million by the end of June with the hope of reaching herd immunity in November.