Seoul, December 11, 2011 : .South Korea’s President Moon Jaein called Saturday for booster shots to be increased for elderly people as it struggles with the ongoing Covid-19 revival, which includes cases of Omicron.
The country added 6,977 new Covid-19 infections, raising the total caseload to 510,538, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The number of critically ill patients came to 856 on Saturday, up four from a day ago, while the death toll hit a daily high of 80, pushing the total up to 4,210, reports Yonhap News Agency.
Twelve new cases of omicron have been confirmed by the KDCA, bringing their total to 75.
“Please take special care in speeding up (booster shot inoculations) for seniors in regional communities,” Moon said in a phone conversation with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, according to the latter’s office.
Moon also told Kim to better explain to the public the need to vaccinate young people based on scientific data, amid a growing public backlash against the government’s plan to expand the vaccine pass scheme to teenagers next year.
According to the KDCA, 83.6 percent of 52 million people have received at least one dose.81.1 percent were inoculated fully and 11.8 percent have had their booster shots.
Starting February 2022, the government plans to require not only adults but also children aged 12 to 18 to present Covid-19 vaccination or negative test certificates at multiuse facilities, including public study rooms and cram schools.
The government made the announcement last week along with toughened gathering restrictions amid the latest virus resurgence and a pileup of student infections.
But it sparked strong backlash from students and parents arguing the measure amounts to forcing vaccination upon minors.
To stop the spread of Omicron and coronavirus, Monday’s government imposed stricter social distancing guidelines.
Under the new measures, which will remain in effect until January 2, 2022, private gatherings are limited to six people in the greater Seoul area and eight in the rest of the country.
More business facilities now need to require visitors to be fully vaccinated or to show a negative Covid-19 test result.
Newly added to the so-called vaccine pass system include restaurants, coffee shops, cram schools and internet cafes.
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