South Korea records highest Covid case numbers as wave of infections sweeps Asia Pacific

South Korea has recorded its highest one-day case total of the pandemic so far as Covid outbreaks in countries across the Asia Pacific region gather pace. The Delta variant is responsible for a growing wave of new cases in the region, which had previously managed the pandemic with some success, and the slow pace of vaccinations in countries including South Korea, Australia and Thailand is causing frustration.

In South Korea, where just 10% of the population is fully vaccinated, authorities on Thursday reported record new cases for the country, with 1,275 cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Wednesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The government warned on Wednesday it was considering raising movement restrictions to the highest level as the fourth wave was spreading rapidly, especially among unvaccinated people in their 20s and 30s. A growing number of highly contagious Delta variant cases raised new worries.

Of the country’s 52 million people, 30% have received at least one shot, the majority of them aged over 60. South Korea’s total Covid infections stand at 164,028, with 2,034 deaths.

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