The country added 19,407 new Covid-19 infections, including 289 cases from abroad, bringing the total caseload to 24,413,873, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure is the lowest since July 11, when the country reported 12,672 cases.
The nation also reported 39 more Covid-19 deaths, raising the death toll to 27,867. The fatality rate stood at 0.11 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 508, up 19 from the previous day, the KDCA said.
The health authorities expect the virus wave to continue to slow down gradually.
As the downward trend continues even after the Chuseok holiday, the authorities have started to discuss shifting the Covid-19 response system from the current emergency response to a daily response system, including lifting indoor mask regulation and quarantine duty for confirmed patients.
Health experts predicted that the endemic period of the Covid-19 virus will likely start next spring.
"As Korea has yet to experience a situation where Covid-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases become simultaneously prevalent, the government should discuss entering an endemic period after winter," Yonhap News quoted Professor Kim Tak of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital Bucheon as saying.
Professor Chun Byung-chul of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Korea University College of Medicine agreed.
"There is a high possibility that Covid-19 virus and influenza will spread simultaneously, and Korea should discuss announcing the end of the Covid-19 epidemic from spring of next year," Chun said.
However, Professor Chun stressed that Korea should maintain mandatory quarantine for confirmed patients.
"In a situation where many people have acquired immunity against the Covid-19 virus, the indoor mask obligation is not effective," Chun said. "However, if the government lifts the mandatory self-quarantine duty for confirmed patients, it might send the wrong message that it is okay to go out even if a person tests positive for an infectious disease."
Experts also stressed that it is important for the government to establish an endemic plan suitable for Korea based on the experience accumulated over the past three years.
Pointing out the shortage of medical personnel in domestic hospitals as an example, Professor Eom Joong-sik, an infectious disease expert at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, noted that a similar situation will inevitably be repeated if Korea does not fundamentally correct the structural and chronic problems identified during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Choi Won-suk of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Ansan Hospital also stressed the need to strengthen policies regarding protecting those vulnerable to infectious diseases.
On Monday, the government approved the use of SKYCovione, the first homegrown Covid-19 vaccine developed by SK Bioscience, for the third and fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccine shots, in addition to its use as primary two-dose inoculations.
According to the KDCA, about 44.67 million among 52 million Koreans have been fully vaccinated. In addition, about 33.58 million people had received their first booster shots, and 7.35 million had their second booster shots.