Daily COVID-19 cases remained in the 50-thousands for a second day amid the continued recession of the omicron wave.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday that 50-thousand-568 cases were compiled throughout the previous day, including 30 overseas infections, bringing the total caseload to 17-million-194-thousand-616.

The daily tally dropped by about seven thousand from a day ago and remained below 100-thousand for the ninth consecutive day. It marks the first time in eleven weeks that Friday figures posted in the 50-thousands.

The number of COVID-19 patients in critical care dropped by 26 to 526, staying in the 500s for the third consecutive day.

Thursday saw 136 deaths from the virus, up 14 from a day ago. The death toll rose to 22-thousand-724, with the fatality rate standing at zero-point-13 percent.

The occupancy rate of ICU beds for critically ill patients nationwide dropped to 27-point-six percent, while around 392-thousand people are recovering from COVID-19 at home, down 26-thousand from a day ago.