The nation reported more than 60-thousand new COVID-19 cases amid the continuing winter wave of the pandemic.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday that 62-thousand-734 new cases were compiled on Thursday, including 50 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to over 27 million-611-thousand.

The daily tally dropped by some 25-hundred from a day ago, but rose by over nine-thousand from both a week ago and two weeks ago.

The number of critically ill hospitalized patients rose by seven from a day ago to 442, having remained above 400 since November 19.

Thursday added 67 deaths, raising the cumulative toll to 30-thousand-975. The fatality rate stands at zero-point-11 percent.