SEOUL (Reuters). South Korea recorded its second highest daily coronavirus case count on Sunday despite a prolonged COVID-19 ban and a high vaccine rate. This raises concerns about the spread of the virus during the Lunar New Year.

The country recorded 7,630 new cases on Saturday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said, above the 7,009 cases reported a day earlier and near the mid-December record https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-reports-7850-new-covid-19-cases-highest-daily-total-kdca-2021-12-15 of 7,848 logged.

South Korea extended stricter social distancing regulations for three weeks in January, with a curfew of 9 pm for bars and restaurants and a limit on private gatherings. This was ahead of Saturday’s holiday.

Tens of millions Koreans travel to the country during Lunar New Year, in order to attend family events during one of its main holidays.

South Korea had 733,902 cases of COVID-19 infection and 6,540 deaths according to KDCA data. Nearly 95% of South Korean adults were fully immunized and nearly half received booster shots.

To contain the rapid spread of the virus, health officials have required proof of vaccination and a booster to gain access to most public facilities, but a court ruled that large shops and teenagers should be temporarily excluded https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/skorea-extends-distancing-curbs-ahead-holidays-omicron-wave-2022-01-14 from COVID-19 vaccine pass mandates.