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South Korea reported a new record one-day high of 342,446 Covid-19 cases on March 9, 2022, as a result of the Omicron surge.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency also reported 158 new deaths due to the virus.

In a country of 52 million people, South Korea has been reporting more than 200,000 new Covid-19 cases on most days in March so far.

Election still happening

The country is holding its presidential election at the moment with its last day on Wednesday, the day of the record high cases.

More than a million people are currently isolating at home after testing positive, which will affect voter turnout.

The Omicron surge is expected to influence elections not as a hot button issue but due to people eligible to vote being sidelined.

But electoral laws were amended a few weeks before voting to ensure those infected can still cast their ballot.

People infected or in quarantine can walk in or take taxis or ambulances provided by local offices to the polling stations to vote in isolated booths.

They are allocated an hour at the end of the second day of early voting and an hour and a half on Wednesday.

South Korea initially kept Covid-19 under control with aggressive testing and contact tracing.

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