S.Korea's daily COVID-19 cases surge as new testing scheme begins

South Korean business owners have their heads shaved during a protest against the government's new social distancing rules which came into effect earlier this month near the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases exceeded 13,000 for the first time on Wednesday, driven by the spread of the Omicron variant, as the government launched a new pilot testing scheme to meet skyrocketing demand.

The record 13,012 cases for the previous 24-hour period came just a day after the tally first topped 8,000 despite the extension of tough social distancing rules.