The Omicron wave in South Korea continues to drive daily new COVID-19 cases to fresh highs, surpassing 100,000 on Friday.

A total of 109,831 new infections were confirmed in the last 24 hours, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the highest single day jump in cases since the start of the pandemic.

Forty-five more virus-related deaths were also confirmed, while the number of critically ill COVID patients dropped by four from the previous day to 385.

Data showed the bed occupancy rate in COVID ICUs nearing 30 percent.

Health experts fear the COVID situation challenging hospitals and the medical system will only get worse as the variant has yet to reach its peak.

The KDCA earlier warned that new cases could hit 170,000 a day by the end of this month, while others estimate they will exceed 200,000 in March.