The South Korean government announced Friday that it would introduce anti-epidemic measures for the inter-seasonal resurgence of COVID-19 next week.

During a COVID-19 response meeting on Friday, Lee Ki-il, the second vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, officially confirmed that the country is going through a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee added the government is currently consulting with medical experts for anti-epidemic measures to counter the resurgence that has recently started across the country.

According to government data, the average number of daily COVID-19 infections during this week -- from Saturday to Thursday -- reached 15,277, up 86.5 percent from 8,183 a week prior.

The reproduction rate of COVID-19 in South Korea also rose to 1.05, Lee added. An RT reading over 1 shows the virus will continue its reproduction, while a reading below 1 means the virus is to fade.

Lee quoted experts saying that the new COVID-19 wave in the country is largely due to the BA.5 variant of omicron. Lee added increased activities during the summer season and waning vaccine immunity have also contributed to the resurgence. Lee noted use of air conditioners in closed indoor settings would have fueled the resurgence.

The BA.5 version of omicron is spreading fast, Lee addressed, while referring to the similar BA.5 propagations in Germany, France and the UK. According to Lee, the proportion of COVID-19 cases infected with BA.5 initially remained low at 1.4 percent during the second week of June. However, the proportion of BA. 5 patients increased to 28.2 percent in the fifth week of June.