COVID Likely to Linger Until Autumn

Daily coronavirus cases have been increasing again as most lockdown restrictions were lifted before the long weekend last week.

On Tuesday morning the daily tally stood at 49,933 cases, up from around 20,000 last week.

"COVID infections will continue for a considerable period of time," said Son Young-rae of the Health Ministry. "Probably until autumn."

Some experts fear anther surge now that caution is being thrown to the wind.

"People have let their guard down as nearly all lockdown restrictions were lifted," said Kim Woo-joo at Korea University Guro Hospital. "It's likely that another wave will begin in late May or early June, when vaccine immunity starts to wane."