The daily number of new coronavirus infections in South Korea hovered in the 1,700s for the second straight day Wednesday as fewer tests were carried out during the Chuseok holiday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said it confirmed 1,703 local transmissions and 17 brought in from overseas the previous day for a total caseload of 290,983.

Daily cases have topped 1,000 for the last 78 days amid the fast spread of the more transmissible Delta variant.

There are concerns over another spike in infections after the holiday as a result of eased social distancing measures and people traveling.

Earlier this month, the government extended Level 4 distancing rules for the greater Seoul area and Level 3 for other regions until October 3, limiting the size of private gatherings and setting a curfew of 10 p.m. for restaurants and cafes.

But it relaxed some restrictions for Chuseok, allowing family gatherings of up to eight people given that four of them are fully vaccinated.

The country added six more COVID-19 related fatalities, raising the death toll to 2,419.