The latest COVID-19 daily tally registered in the 70-thousand range amid the winter resurgence of the virus.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Thursday that 70-thousand-154 new cases were compiled on Wednesday, including 38 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to nearly 28 million. 

The daily tally dropped by some 14-thousand from a day earlier, but rose by some five-thousand compared to last week and 13-thousand from two weeks prior. It also marks the largest tally for a Thursday in 13 weeks. 

Health authorities said new cases are slowly increasing with some fluctuations. 

The number of critically ill, hospitalized patients rose by two from the previous day to 465, and has remained above 400 since November 19.

58 deaths were reported on Wednesdsay, raising the cumulative toll to 31-thousand-232. The fatality rate stands at zero-point-11 percent.