South Korea reported a daily record 266,853 new COVID-19 cases, and record daily 186 deaths, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday, according to Reuters.

The country moved forward with easing some social distancing restrictions, however, as authorities announced on Friday they would be pushing a curfew on restaurants and cafes back one hour to 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, South Korea began early voting on Friday for a presidential election in the shadow of the pandemic, as up to a million people with COVID-19 are expected to cast ballots during a spike driving one of the world’s highest caseloads.

Election workers have been deployed in protective equipment including full-body suits and safety glasses, and voters with COVID or exposed to the virus will spray hand sanitisers and wear gloves before casting ballots, according to the national election commission.