Daily Infections Remain Above 3,000

The daily tally of new infections has been over 3,000 for three days running in the third week after Korea began a tentative return to normal.

On Friday morning, new infections stood at 3,034, with 499 seriously ill in hospital, mostly elderly and unvaccinated people.

Health authorities are now considering bringing booster vaccine shots forward for all adults rather than just the over 50s. The final decision will be made in the new year because most of them have only just had their second jab.

Meanwhile, health authorities said the death of a high school senior 75 days after his Pfizer jab was not related to the vaccination. They added the student was suffering from undiagnosed leukemia and died of the disease.