Korea reported fewer than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases Thursday, according to health authorities.

It was the first time in 63 days that the daily tally stayed in the 90,000 range on Thursday. The daily average of confirmed cases also fell below 100,000 in the past week for the first time in two months.

As the decline in the prevalence of the Omicron variant continues after the government removed most distancing rules, quarantine officials said they are discussing whether to lift the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors next week.

The current system requires people to wear masks outdoors within two meters of each other. If the government lifts this restriction from May 2, Koreans will be able to take it off outside regardless of the distance between people. However, the indoor mask mandate will remain, for the time being, officials said.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, many countries, including the U.S., Singapore, France, and Germany, have lifted the mask mandate outdoors. In addition, some countries, such as Japan and the U.K., have lifted even the indoor mask mandate.

However, the Central Disease Control Headquarters stressed that Korea is not yet on time to go so far.

"With summer approaching, it is premature to remove indoor masks considering that many people will stay indoors to use air conditioners," said Kim Yu-mi, head of the daily quarantine management team for the Central Disease Control Headquarters. "The use of subways and buses also increases during summertime."

Therefore, it is a situation that requires a very careful review, Kim added.

However, putting off face masks outdoors may take more time under the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration. His transition committee has expressed a negative view on lifting the mandatory outdoor mask rule, health experts said.

"About 100,000 new virus cases and more than 100 deaths still occur per day," transition team spokesperson Shin Yong-hyun said Wednesday. "Many quarantine experts have expressed concerns that the easing of quarantine measures might weaken the social alert on the Covid-19."

Shin stressed that wearing a mask is the basic rule and the final line of defense for all infectious disease prevention and management.

"We urge the government not to hastily lift the rules wearing masks outdoors, by which the citizens are abiding by well," Shin said. "The government's decision to completely lift quarantine obligations at the end of May is a fairly hasty approach."

The next government will lift the quarantine obligation when it deems it possible after a thorough review, Shin added.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed 90,867 new virus cases on Thursday, raising the cumulative caseload to 16,674,045.

The death toll came to 21,667, up 147 from the previous day, with a fatality rate of 0.13 percent. Critically ill patients also increased to 846, down 38 from a day ago.

As of Thursday, 33 million people have received booster shots or 64.4 percent of the country's population. The number of fully vaccinated people also came to 44.53 million, representing 86.8 percent of Koreans, the KDCA said.

With the nation starting second booster vaccination for people over 60 from Monday, health officials pleaded that the group should receive the vaccination to protect themselves from the Omicron variant.

As of midnight Thursday, the vaccination rate of second booster shots stood at 3.8 percent among adults 60 and older.

"Vaccination can prevent deaths and risks from Covid-19," KDCA spokesperson Koh Jae-young said. "As we are trying to return to normal life, risks facing those aged 60 or higher have become even bigger."