The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Luxury brands continue hiking prices in Korea

  • 3

    China flags consequences of Yoon's stronger coupling with US, Japan

  • 5

    Napoli's Kim Min-jae named Serie A's best defender, makes Team of the Season

  • 7

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 9

    Pyongyang as lived experience: existentialism and identity in North Korea

  • 11

    US, China trade blame as hopes for military dialogue fade

  • 13

    Defense chiefs of S. Korea, US, Japan to meet in Singapore amid NK threats

  • 15

    Reasons to talk about North Korea

  • 17

    S. Korea, US agree on joint probe into NK 'space rocket' debris once salvaged: Seoul official

  • 19

    US, Japan, S. Korea aim to share NK missile warning data

  • 2

    India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in one of nation's worst rail disasters

  • 4

    INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series

  • 6

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 8

    Wall Street leaps, nearly escapes its bear market after strong jobs report

  • 10

    'The Roundup: No Way Out' tops 3 mil. admissions

  • 12

    UN official calls out Security Council for inaction on N. Korea

  • 14

    House lawmakers urge US to rally allies over China's Micron ban

  • 16

    PHOTOSTrain collision in India

  • 18

    Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to launch counteroffensive

  • 20

    EU's top diplomat discusses Ukraine's ammunition needs with S. Korea

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, June 5, 2023 | 04:57
Health & Science
Korea set to strengthen quarantine measures this week
Posted : 2021-12-14 15:56
Updated : 2021-12-14 16:43
Bahk Eun-ji
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
                                                                                                 An error message appears on Naver's vaccination certificate app, at a restaurant in Seoul, Tuesday, the second day of the mandatory vaccine pass system at multiuse facilities. Yonhap
An error message appears on Naver's vaccination certificate app, at a restaurant in Seoul, Tuesday, the second day of the mandatory vaccine pass system at multiuse facilities. Yonhap

Vaccine pass system malfunctions for 2nd consecutive day

By Bahk Eun-ji

The government is expected to introduce tougher social distancing rules in the coming days in a desperate bid to curb the unrelenting spread of COVID-19 amid a surge in the number of coronavirus deaths and critically ill patients.

Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, said in a radio interview Tuesday that a range of options had already been prepared and the administration would choose from among them according to the situation.

"I don't think the government's countermeasures will be delayed or insufficient at this critical time," he said. "We'll review the virus situation on Wednesday and Thursday."

Park's comments seemed to indicate that strengthened quarantine guidelines would be announced Friday.

Despite the health authorities' efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 5,567 new infections for Monday, while critical cases and deaths hit record highs of 906 and 94, respectively. Five more Omicron variant cases were detected as well, raising the total to 119.

                                                                                                 An error message appears on Naver's vaccination certificate app, at a restaurant in Seoul, Tuesday, the second day of the mandatory vaccine pass system at multiuse facilities. Yonhap
Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, speaks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, in this June 27 photo. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

The government eased social distancing rules Nov. 1 in line with its "Living with COVID-19" strategy, but partially toughened them again Dec. 6 as the number of infections began to soar. But they were not as strong as previous measures imposed at the end of last year, despite the numbers of new infections, critically ill patients and deaths being much higher than then.

The situation has caused health experts to call for the re-imposition of strengthened social distancing measures. The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union held a press conference Monday to call for suspension of the return to normalcy plan, saying it had been implemented without sufficient preparation and was now showing its limits.

In the meantime, the government's enforcement of a vaccine pass system is not working smoothly.

Along with the measures introduced Dec. 6, the government made it mandatory for users of restaurants, cafes and other multiuse facilities to show their vaccination record using the system in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Following a one-week grace period, the system went into effect officially Monday, but the system did not work properly through Tuesday due to a surge of users especially around lunchtime.

After the confusion Monday, the government hurriedly increased the number of servers it was using.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum apologized for the malfunction Tuesday morning, and ordered relevant ministries to take measures to prevent a recurrence.

"I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the people," Kim said in Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul. "We told the health authorities to stabilize the system as soon as possible and take thorough measures to prevent a recurrence."

But the malfunction continued Tuesday lunchtime on some apps, again causing inconvenience to citizens. The government said it would not impose fines on those who failed to present their vaccine pass or multiuse facility owners who failed to check it due to the system errors over the two days.
Emailejb@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1[LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1] How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life
2Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection
3Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine
4Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactionsConcerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions
5S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of radar disputeS. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of radar dispute
6K-food transforms global culinary industry K-food transforms global culinary industry
7Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle' Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'
8Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in BostonKorean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston
9Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring
10Public welcomed to rediscover newly demilitarized land in Yongsan Children's Garden Public welcomed to rediscover newly demilitarized land in Yongsan Children's Garden
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
2Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
3[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
4'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
5How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group