Daily COVID-19 cases top 1,000 for first time in South Korea

People shop amid the COVID-19 pandemic at a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea, December 8, 2020. /Reuters

South Korea on Sunday reported 1,030 new COVID-19 cases, crossing the 1,000 daily mark for the first time since its first reported case in January, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Sunday's new cases included 1,002 local infections, raising the country's total caseload to 42,766. Two more deaths were also recorded, increasing the death toll to 580.

South Korea's daily new cases had been hovering between 400 and 600 earlier this month, but surged up to 950 on Saturday and surpassed 1,000 on Sunday.

President Moon Jae-in on Saturday called the country's third wave of infections an "emergency," ordering the mobilization of police, military personnel and public medical doctors to curb the further spread of the coronavirus.

(With input from Reuters)