The number of coronavirus cases reported daily in South Korea topped 5,000 for the first time in 20 days as the omicron form spread swiftly.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the country had acquired 5,805 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Tuesday, bringing the overall number of infections to 705,902. The statistic represented an increase of 1,733 over the previous day.

Since reaching a high of 5,034 on December 30, the figure has risen above 5,000 for the first time in 20 days.

As of midnight Tuesday, the total number of severely ill COVID-19 patients had reached 532, with a total of 74 COVID-19 deaths reported across the country. The fatality rate was 0.91 percent, according to the data.

A coronavirus variant known as the omicron variant has been detected in several locations. In the current situation, one in every four patients is contaminated with the omicron form," Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during a videoconference held by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Wednesday.

Kim went on to say that the government anticipates the omicron version to overtake the omicron variant as the main coronavirus strain in the country this week and that the number of daily COVID-19 cases would rapidly climb.

Kim advised more people to get COVID-19 booster doses as a result of the outbreak.

It is still an effective countermeasure against the omicron variant, according to him, who added that vaccination is still available.

As of midnight Tuesday, 43.63 million individuals — or 85 percent of the country's 52 million inhabitants — had received their first round of vaccinations, with another 24 million — or 46.8 percent — having received booster vaccinations.

Kim emphasized that it was critical to raise vaccination rates among teenagers because the omicron strain posed a serious hazard to public health at the time of publication.

On Tuesday, the number of under-18s who were newly verified to have been infected with the coronavirus reached 1,459, accounting for 26.9 percent of the overall number of confirmed cases.

Patients infected with the omicron variant will be able to receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes starting on Wednesday, according to the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Patients with Omicron who are at higher risk of serious infection — such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions — will still be urged to be admitted to the hospital.

A total of 17,283 COVID-19 patients were being treated from their homes as of midnight Tuesday, according to government data. Patients who were infected with the delta variant are depicted in the figure.

There are 346 medical institutions that will take care of patients who are being treated at home, as well as 47 medical centers that will provide ambulatory treatment, thanks to arrangements made by the government.

Meanwhile, the government announced that patients who have vaccine-related side effects will be exempt from the controversial vaccine pass legislation in place in the country.

After a court ruled that the immunization pass system at certain multipurpose venues, including department stores, huge discount stores, cinemas, and cram schools, could not be implemented, the government removed the ban on the system on Monday.

Cafés, restaurants, nightclubs, indoor gyms, public bathhouses, and internet cafes are examples of establishments where the vaccine pass mandate is still in effect.