On November 18th, in a school in Seoul, South Korea, a school teacher wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) instructed students to take the annual college academic ability test (CSAT) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. , This is a national university entrance exam, 2021. Jung Yeon-je/Pool via REUTERS

Reuters, Seoul, November 18-South Korea’s Disease Prevention and Control Agency (KDCA) said on Thursday that South Korea had reported 3,292 new COVID-19 cases, a record high as the country has entered the first phase of “coexistence with COVID” . 19" relax restrictions.

After the country exceeded its goal of vaccinating 70% of its 52 million population, many social distancing restrictions were lifted earlier this month, and officials and experts predicted an increase in cases. Now more than 78.5% of people have been fully vaccinated, including more than 90% of adults.

KDCA stated that the effectiveness of the early delivery of coronavirus vaccines to vulnerable groups such as the elderly has weakened, leading to an increase in breakthrough infections and an increase in severe cases. read more

As of Thursday, there were 506 severe cases, slightly lower than the record high of 522 reported the day before.

To curb this peak, KDCA said on Wednesday that it has decided to shorten the interval between booster injections to four months for people 60 years of age or older, and people living or working in nursing homes and other vulnerable facilities.

Hospital beds around the Greater Seoul area are filling up quickly, and as of Wednesday, only about 30% of the intensive care unit (ICU) is available.

KDCA stated that if more than 75% of ICU beds nationwide are used and other factors pose a high risk, it will consider issuing a circuit breaker on the relaxed distance limit.

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