Korea's daily Covid-19 tally dropped down to a four-digit figure for the first time in 118 days.

On Monday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirmed 9,975 new infections, bringing the total caseload to 17,967,672. Monday's tally fell by more than 3,300 cases from a week earlier and marked the lowest since the KDCA confirmed 8,570 cases on Jan. 25.

The death toll came to 23,987, up 22 from Sunday, with a fatality rate of 0.13 percent. However, critically ill patients came to 225, down four from a day earlier.

"Due mainly to the decline in tests on weekends, the newly confirmed cases have fallen below 10,000," said Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Resolving Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "However, it is also true that the decreasing trend of confirmed cases and the medical system also remains stable."

However, quarantine authorities also expressed concerns that the timing of a possible resurge of the virus may come sooner than expected due to the emergence of new variants.

"The number of confirmed cases cannot continue to decrease, and the decline will stagnate at some point," Son said. "It is difficult to know when that will be, so we have to watch the trend."

The drop in cases followed a decision by the government on Friday to postpone the lifting of quarantine obligation for confirmed Covid-19 patients for four weeks amid the possibility that relaxation could bring about a resurge of the Covid-19 virus as early as this summer.

The health authorities said that they would listen to experts' opinions and reestablish a quarantine system based on scientific evidence by developing reasonable standards for switching quarantine duties. They will also establish a medical response system by, for instance, increasing medical institutions for face-to-face treatment and securing isolated beds for inpatients over the next four weeks.

There are 6,439 hospitals and clinics that provide face-to-face treatment for confirmed patients, and the government plans to further expand face-to-face treatment through consultation with medical groups by providing financial support.

"We have more than 6,000 face-to-face medical institutions nationwide, so there will be no inconvenience in using them," Son said. "We believe that medical professionals will become more confident in their treatment and infection control for Covid-19 as time goes on and will become more active."

Meanwhile, Korea began to recognize negative rapid antigen test results for overseas visitors, aside from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results currently allowed, from Monday.

Previously, foreign entrants had to submit a PCR negative confirmation within 48 hours before entry. However, travelers will enter Korea only with a negative RAT confirmation issued within 24 hours of entry.

However, travelers must submit a negative confirmation certificate issued and tested by a medical expert, as the results of the self-test kit will not be accepted.

The government also decided to extend the period of contact visits to nursing hospitals and facilities set to end Sunday.

According to the agency, about 44.57 million people, or 86.9 percent of the 52-million population, have been fully vaccinated. In addition, about 33.26 million people had received their first booster shots, representing 64.8 percent, and 3.8 million people had their second booster shots.