South Korea posted new COVID-19 cases in the 20-thousand range for the second consecutive day, and the lowest figure for a Friday in 16 weeks.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday that 25-thousand-125 infections were confirmed throughout the previous day, including 22 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17-million-914-thousand-957.

The newest figure dropped by around three-thousand cases from the day before, and was the lowest Friday tally since 16-thousand-90 cases were reported on January 28.

The number of serious and critical patients receiving care at the hospital stood at 251, down 23 from a day ago.

Forty-three additional deaths were recorded on Thursday. The total death toll came to 23-thousand-885 with the fatality rate unchanged at zero-point-13 percent.