On Monday, for the first time in nearly four months, the number of daily new COVID-19 infections in South Korea fell below 10,000. Despite relaxed pandemic restrictions, the highly contagious Omicron variant recedes.
The figure of 9,975 is the lowest since South Korea reported 8,570 cases in late January. according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
As cases declined after peaking at more than 600,000 in mid-March, South Korea lifted most pandemic-related restrictions earlier this month, including a requirement for outdoor masks.