Coronavirus: South Koreans cast early votes in presidential election amid record case surge; Singapore opens more travel lanes

New daily cases hit a fresh peak of 266,853 as 3,552 polling stations opened for early voting

Elsewhere, the government is moving Vietnam to the course of living with Covid-19 even as infections soar

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People cast their ballots at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 12:08pm, 4 Mar 2022Updated: 3:20pm, 4 Mar 2022

South Korea kicked off two days of early voting as the country battles a record wave of coronavirus infections, while data showed inflation unexpectedly accelerated in February as rising costs weighed on voters.

New daily cases hit a fresh peak of 266,853 while the number of deaths rose by a record 186 as 3,552 polling stations opened on Friday for early voting. March 9 is election day and health ministry data indicates nearly one million people are expected to be under some sort of Covid-19 home treatment.

Voters are required to spray sanitiser on their hands and then wear plastic gloves before casting their ballots, while election workers will be in protective gear, according to the national election commission.

The two main candidates – progressive Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main conservative People Power Party – were on national tours to rally support.

Yoon received a major boost on Thursday when another conservative contender suspended his campaign and offered support – a move that likely nudged Yoon slightly ahead in a race that has been neck-and-neck.