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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Enjoying first mask-free day

Elementary school students in Seoul participate in a physical education class without wearing face masks, Monday, as all remaining outdoor mask rules were fully lifted nationwide, one year and five months after being introduced in April 2021. Yonhap

Sep 26, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Enjoying first mask-free day

New COVID-19 cases hit over 2-month low; outdoor mask mandates fully lifted

A woman enters a screening clinic in Seoul's Dongdaemun Ward to take a coronavirus test, Sept. 26. YonhapKorea's new COVID-19 cases fell to the lowest number in more than two months on Monday, as the virus wave has been slowing down at a steady pace and the government has fully lifted outdoor mask mandates.The country reported 14,168 new COVID-19 infections, including 220 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 24,634,296, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.It is the smallest figure since July 11, when the daily figure came to 12,672. The latest count is also down from 25,792 cases logged the previous day and from 19,389 a week earlier.The virus wave, triggered by the spread of a highly contagious omicron variant, has been on a decline after a resurgence in July that later peaked above 180,000 cases in mid-August. On Monday, the country reported 33 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 28,246. The number of critically ill patients came to 427, up by 11 from Sunday, the KDCA said.In line with the waning virus trend, the government lifted a

Sep 26, 2022
New COVID-19 cases hit over 2-month low; outdoor mask mandates fully lifted

Government considers easing additional COVID-19 measures

People, some wearing masks and others not, walk around a neighborhood in Jung District in central Seoul. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanOutdoor mask mandate to be lifted Monday By Lee Hae-rinThe government is expected to speed up the pace of its COVID-19 exit strategy after its decision to lift all outdoor mask mandates starting Monday. The next steps are likely to range from ending the post-arrival PCR test to resuming face-to-face visits at nursing hospitals, and it is considering a step-by-step easing of the seven-day quarantine for infected patients. Until Sunday, those at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people, such as sporting events, had to wear masks, but it is no longer required, according to the government.“We are clearly overcoming the hurdle of the recent resurgence of the coronavirus,” Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a government meeting at the Government Complex in Sejong, Friday. The government plans to map out a new set of low-risk quarantine measures to solve the public's inconveniences based on feedback from experts, the prime minister sai

Sep 25, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
Government considers easing additional COVID-19 measures
  • ANALYSIS Why COVID-19 spread continues despite 97% antibody rate among population

End of outdoor mask mandate

People enjoy a festival held at Jamsu Bridge over the Han River in Seoul, Sunday, one day before the mask mandate outdoors is fully lifted nationwide. The government has decided to drop the mask requirement outdoors for the first time since it was adopted in April, 2021, but people will still be required to wear masks indoors. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Sep 25, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
End of outdoor mask mandate

ANALYSIS Why COVID-19 spread continues despite 97% antibody rate among population

A woman walks with a mask in her hand on a street in Jung District, Seoul, Friday. The outdoor mask mandate, which went into effect from April 2021, will be fully lifted starting Monday. YonhapWaning immunity, emergence of new variants remain concerns By Lee Hyo-jin While a recent government study found that almost all Koreans have developed antibodies against the coronavirus either by vaccination or natural infection, this finding does not mean that the population has achieved herd immunity, according to health officials.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) unveiled on Friday the results of its latest study, which showed that 97.4 percent of those surveyed had antibodies against the spike protein (S) of the coronavirus. The survey, co-organized with the Korea National Institute of Health (NIH), involved some 10,000 people aged five and above living in 17 cities and provinces. A COVID-19 antibody test checks whether an individual has developed S-antibodies or nucleocapsid protein (N)-antibodies. S-antibodies are produced either through natural infection or vaccinat

Sep 25, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
[ANALYSIS] Why COVID-19 spread continues despite 97% antibody rate among population
  • Government considers easing additional COVID-19 measures

New COVID-19 cases under 30,000 for 3rd straight day

A COVID-19 test clinic is nearly empty near Seoul Station in central Seoul on Sept. 18, amid eased virus curbs. YonhapKorea's new COVID-19 cases remained below 30,000 for the third straight day Sunday in a sign that the virus wave is slowing down at a steady pace. The country reported 25,792 new COVID-19 infections, including 248 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 24,620,128, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Newly reported virus cases have shown a steady downward trajectory as of late after the COVID-19 omicron variant surged again in early July and peaked above 180,000 cases on Aug. 17. New deaths from COVID-19 rose to 73, up from 24 a day ago, putting the death toll at 28,213. The fatality rate was 0.11 percent.The number of critically ill patients came to 416, down two from a day earlier. (Yonhap)

Sep 25, 2022
New COVID-19 cases under 30,000 for 3rd straight day

97% of Koreans have antibodies to COVID-19: survey

A COVID-19 testing station in Seoul is quiet with only a few people waiting in line, Sept. 23. YonhapKorea's new COVID-19 cases fell to the lowest Friday tally in 11 weeks in the latest sign of a downward trend ahead of the planned lifting of all outdoor mask mandates next week.The country reported 29,108 new COVID-19 infections, including 303 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 24,565,021, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The new daily figure is the lowest of all Friday tallies since cases dropped to 19,295 on July 8. The daily caseload decreased from 33,009 the previous day and 51,855 a week ago. New deaths from COVID-19 increased by nine to 68, putting the death toll at 28,077. The fatality rate was 0.11 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 399, down 29 from a day earlier.The sixth and latest wave of the omicron variant took on the peninsular country in early July and peaked slightly over 180,000 cases in mid-August. Health authorities believe the virus' sixth resurgence seems to have peaked out for a steady decline, with a f

Sep 23, 2022
97% of Koreans have antibodies to COVID-19: survey
  • Korea to lift outdoor mask mandate starting next week

Korea to lift outdoor mask mandate starting next week

A couple strolls down the street without wearing masks in Gwangju, May 1. NewsisThe government has decided to lift all outdoor mask mandates starting next week as the country is "clearly overcoming" a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, the prime minister said Friday.Under the decision set to go into effect Monday, those at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people, and sporting events and concerts will not be required to wear masks.Currently, people not wearing a mask at such large outdoor events are subject to a fine.Women smile without wearing masks in Myeongdong, one of the busiest shopping districts in Seoul, May 2. Yonhap"We are clearly overcoming a critical moment of a resurgence in COVID-19," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a government response meeting. "Going forward, the government will ease low-risk anti-virus measures one by one after receiving feedback from experts."Rules for indoor mask wearing, however, will remain in place for the time being on possible risks of seasonal influenza and a resurgence of the infectious disease, Han said.In May, the government lifted the

Sep 23, 2022
Korea to lift outdoor mask mandate starting next week
  • 97% of Koreans have antibodies to COVID-19: survey

KDCA faces possible flurry of legal cases over vaccine side effects

A member of a coalition of families of alleged COVID-19 vaccine side effect victims gets his head shaved during a rally held near Seoul Central District Court, May 6, calling on the government to provide better compensation to victims. YonhapGov't ordered to compensate for COVID-19 vaccine adverse effectsBy Lee Hyo-jinA recent court ruling ordering the government to compensate a man suffering from COVID-19 vaccine side effects has put the health authority in a difficult position, amid growing calls to recognize deaths and illnesses following vaccination more actively. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the man, who is in his 30s, in a lawsuit filed against the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) commissioner, Aug. 19.The plaintiff, living in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, claimed that he suffered a fever the day after receiving an AstraZeneca dose in April 2021, and felt dizziness and numbness in his legs the next day. He was later diagnosed with an intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral cavernous malformation and mononeuropathy.He requested that the KDCA compe

Sep 22, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
KDCA faces possible flurry of legal cases over vaccine side effects

Korea plans to lift mask mandate for outdoor sporting events, concerts

People walk along a street while voluntarily wearing masks in Seoul amid a new virus wave, July 27. YonhapThe government plans to lift the mask wearing requirement for large outdoor gatherings, such as sporting events and concerts, as early as this week amid a steady decline in new COVID-19 cases, according to officials Thursday.The decision came after an experts' advisory committee on the government's infectious disease response policy recommended the lifting of the mask mandate in outdoor gatherings of over 50 people.Currently, people not wearing a mask at such large outdoor events are subject to a fine. In May, the government lifted the outdoor mask mandate for individuals but kept the mask rule for large outdoor group gatherings, such as sporting and concert events, and outdoor rallies.The government plans to announce the decision as early as this week. Rules for indoor mask wearing, however, remain in place for the time being, according to officials. (Yonhap)

Sep 22, 2022
Korea plans to lift mask mandate for outdoor sporting events, concerts
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