New infections dip on fewer tests; COVID-19 cases top 200,000 in S.Korea

The country added 1,219 COVID-19 cases, including 1,150 local infections, raising the total caseload to 201,002, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The latest tally marks a decline from 1,539 cases reported Saturday and 1,442 cases Sunday, although the daily caseload usually falls over the weekend and rises later in the week as more people get tested.

There was one additional COVID-19 death, raising the death toll to 2,099. The fatality rate stood at 1.04 percent.

The daily caseload has remained above 1,000 since July 7 due to outbreaks centered in the greater Seoul area.

Authorities, however, have been on high alert over a nationwide resurgence amid increasing travel during the summer vacation season and the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

To slow down the recent rise in cases, health authorities have extended the highest measures of the country's four-tier social distancing scheme in the Seoul metropolitan area until this Sunday.

The toughest restrictions ban gatherings of more than two people after 6 p.m., place a 10 p.m. curfew on restaurants and cafes, and ban operations of nightclubs and other entertainment venues.

Areas outside the greater capital region are under Level 3 measures through Sunday, though some municipalities have adopted Level 4 measures to better contain the virus.

Under Level 3, cafes and restaurants can accept customers until 10 p.m., and only takeout and delivery services are available after that time. Private gatherings of five or more people are banned.

Health authorities are considering additional measures to contain the fourth wave if the situation shows no significant signs of slow down.

The KDCA is also working to speed up vaccinations, expanding inoculations to the younger population.

Nearly 18 million people aged 18-49 will receive their first jabs of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna from Aug. 26 to Sept. 30.

As of Monday, a total of 19.47 million people, or 37.9 percent of the country's 51.3 million population, have received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines, and 7.15 million people have been fully vaccinated, the KDCA said.

The country has so far administered vaccines to those aged 55 or over and priority groups, such as medical workers, since it started its vaccination campaign in late February.

South Korea aims to administer a single vaccination shot to 36 million people, or 70 percent of its population, by September with hopes of reaching herd immunity in November.

Of the 1,150 domestic cases, infections from non-capital areas reached 401, or 34.9 percent of the total, after rising to the 30 percent mark in mid-July.

The southeastern port city of Busan and the surrounding South Gyeongsang Province reported 68 and 77 cases, respectively.

In the capital area, Seoul reported 362 new cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province added 328 more. The western port city of Incheon confirmed 59 more cases.

New cases from overseas arrivals reached 69, up 13 rom the previous day, bringing the total to 12,020.

The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries was 176,605, up 931 from a day earlier.

The number of patients in critical condition came to 326, a rise of two from the previous day.