Coronavirus: South Korea reports record daily cases; Nepal resumes visas on arrival for vaccinated tourists

Infections in South Korea top 3,000 for the first time amid an outbreak fuelled by a three-day holiday this week

Elsewhere, Australia’s Victoria state warns people to stay at home ahead of a major sporting event as daily cases hit 847, while Nepal restarts visas on arrival for vaccinated tourists

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More than 77 per cent of South Korea’s locally transmitted cases have been in Seoul. File photo: Reuters

Published: 11:46am, 25 Sep 2021Updated: 5:22pm, 25 Sep 2021

South Korea’s daily coronavirus cases topped 3,000 for the first time on Saturday as an outbreak fuelled by a three-day holiday this week continued to grow.

The country reported 3,273 Covid-19 cases for Friday, a day after hitting the previous high, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Saturday.

Of the new cases, 3,245 were locally transmitted and 28 were imported, bringing South Korea’s total to 298,402 infections with 2,441 deaths.

More than 77 per cent of the domestically transmitted cases have been in Seoul and areas neighbouring the capital, where about half the nation’s 52 million people live.

The mortality rate and severe cases remain relatively low and steady at 0.82 per cent and 339, respectively, helped by vaccinations that prioritised older people at high risk of severe Covid-19, KDCA said.

Singapore to spend US$480 million as curbs tightened

Singapore will spend S$650 million (US$480 million) to provide additional support measures and cushion the impact of its renewed virus-related restrictions on workers and businesses.