SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea reported 700 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, the highest daily figure since early January, and the prime minister reiterated warnings that new rules on social distancing would likely be needed.
The new figure compares to an average of 477 cases a day last week, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and will fuel fears that the country could face a fourth wave of infections.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a government meeting that a new wave could disrupt South Korea’s vaccination program, which has suffered delays as international vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX struggles to provide doses promises on time.
South Korea said Wednesday it would suspend the supply of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to people under the age of 60, as the shooting is being reviewed in Europe.
Authorities will decide whether to resume vaccinations with AstraZeneca shots for under-60s this weekend, according to Kim Ki-nam, head of a vaccination task force.
South Korea approved a shot by Johnson & Johnson to try to speed up the launch of the inoculation.
Officials have said a new round of restrictions is likely to be announced on Friday. South Korea currently limits private meetings to more than four people.
To date, South Korea has reported a total of 107,598 infections, with 1,758 deaths.
More than a million South Koreans have received their first coronavirus vaccine since February.
Sangmi Cha Reports; Edited by Edwina Gibbs, Robert Birsel