The number of COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition fell below one-thousand for the first time in two weeks, with daily new infections staying below four-thousand for the third straight day.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said Tuesday that three-thousand-24 new infections were reported throughout the previous day, raising the total caseload to 645-thousand-226.

Of the new cases, two-thousand-889 were local transmissions, while 135 were from overseas. 

The daily tally dropped by over 100 from a day ago and by over 800 from a week ago amid tougher social distancing. 

The number of patients in serious or critical condition also fell by 42 from a day ago to 973, falling below one-thousand for the first time in 15 days. 

Fifty-one more people died of the virus, raising the accumulated death toll to five-thousand-781. The fatality rate rose from zero-point-89 percent to zero-point-nine percent. 

On the vaccination front, 86-point-two percent of the population had received their first shots as of 12 a.m. Tuesday, and over 83 percent had been fully vaccinated, while 37 percent had received booster shots.