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Korea's new COVID-19 cases jump to over 73,000 as subvariant spreads

People wait to receive a COVID-19 test at a screening center in Songpa District, Seoul, July 19, amid the spread of a highly contagious Omicron subvariant. YonhapKorea's new coronavirus cases jumped to over 73,000 Tuesday as a highly contagious Omicron subvariant is spreading fast amid eased virus curbs. The country reported 73,582 new COVID-19 infections, including 351 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,861,593, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Tuesday's figure more than doubled from 26,299 cases a day earlier. The daily caseload stood at 40,342 on Sunday and 41,310 on Saturday. The country has seen a marked increase in infections from end-June as the Omicron subvariant BA.5 spreads during the summer holidays. The daily count hit over 10,000 on June 29 for the first time in about three weeks before jumping to over 20,000 on July 9 and then above 40,000 on Wednesday. The KDCA reported 12 deaths from the virus Tuesday, putting the death toll at 24,765. The fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent.The number of critically ill patients was 91, up from

Jul 19, 2022
Korea's new COVID-19 cases jump to over 73,000 as subvariant spreads

Korea's new COVID-19 cases more than double in week to near 27,000

People wait in line to receive a COVID-19 test at a screening center in Gangnam District, Seoul, July 18, amid the spread of the Omicron subvariant. YonhapKorea's new coronavirus cases more than doubled Monday from a week earlier amid a resurgence of infections and the fast spread of a highly contagious new Omicron subvariant.The country reported 26,299 new COVID-19 infections, including 319 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,788,056, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Monday's figure fell from 40,342 cases on Sunday and 41,310 on Saturday, but it more than doubled from 12,681 cases logged a week earlier due to the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5.Korea has seen a marked increase in infections from end-June amid eased virus curbs. The daily count hit over 10,000 on June 29 for the first time in about three weeks before jumping to over 20,000 on July 9 and then above 40,000 on Wednesday. The KDCA reported 11 deaths from the virus Monday, putting the death toll at 24,753. The fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent. (Yonhap)

Jul 18, 2022
Korea's new COVID-19 cases more than double in week to near 27,000

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases remain high at 40,342

People wait to receive a COVID-19 test at a screening center in Songpa District, Seoul, Sunday, amid the spread of the omicron subvariant. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 40,000 on Sunday due to the spread of a highly contagious new omicron subvariant despite fewer tests over the weekend.The country reported 40,342 new COVID-19 infections, including 305 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,761,757, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Sunday's figure is slightly down from 41,310 cases a day earlier. But it marked the highest figure for a Sunday since April 24 when the caseload reached 64,696.The country has seen a marked increase in infections from end-June due to the spread of the omicron subvariant BA.5. amid eased virus curbs.The daily count hit over 10,000 on June 29 for the first time in about three weeks before jumping to over 20,000 on July 9 and then above 40,000 on Wednesday. The infection tally on Thursday and Friday stood at 39,186 and 38,882, respectively.The KDCA reported 14 deaths from the virus Sunday, putting t

Jul 17, 2022
S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases remain high at 40,342

New COVID-19 infections continue doubling on-week to near 40,000

A COVID-19 testing station in Incheon, west of Seoul, is crowded with people who seek to undergo virus tests, July 15. YonhapKorea's new coronavirus cases more than doubled in a week again on Friday to near 40,000 amid the fast spread of a highly contagious new Omicron subvariant.The country added 38,882 new COVID-19 infections, including 261 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,680,142, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Friday's figure more than doubled from 19,308 new cases logged a week earlier, as the country has seen a marked growth in infections from end-June due to the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5.The daily count hit over 10,000 on June 29 for the first time in about three weeks and rose to over 20,000 on Saturday and further to 40,000 on Wednesday.The KDCA reported 16 deaths from the virus Friday, putting the death toll at 24,712. The fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent.The number of critically ill patients came to 65, down from the previous day's 69.The KDCA has said the country has entered a new virus wave, ending a downwar

Jul 15, 2022
New COVID-19 infections continue doubling on-week to near 40,000

Korea to tighten quarantine inspections at major airports amid virus resurgence

The departure hall of Gimpo International Airport in Seoul bustles with passengers, July 15. YonhapThe government will beef up quarantine inspections at major airports as the number of travelers are expected to rise sharply in the summer vacation season amid a new wave of virus resurgence, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min said Friday. Some 200 quarantine workers will be additionally assigned to Incheon International Airport, the No. 1 gateway to the country, and seven other regional airports in stages to tighten quarantine inspection, the minister said during a government virus response meeting. "The government will facilitate a safe tourism environment as travel demand is expected to shoot up due to the normalization of international air routes and the peak summer vacation season," Lee noted. Separately, the government will also assign about 2,500 workers at major tourist areas across the nation to ensure the compliance with antivirus rules and hygiene standards, according to the minister. Driven by a highly contagious mutation of the Omicron strains, BA.5, the nation is facing anothe

Jul 15, 2022
Korea to tighten quarantine inspections at major airports amid virus resurgence

Korea confirms first case of new heavily mutated Omicron variant

People stand in line to receive a COVID-19 test at a screening center in Songpa District, Seoul, July 14 YonhapKorea's new coronavirus cases more than doubled in a week to near 40,000 on Thursday, as the country has experienced a resurgence of infections amid the fast spread of a highly contagious new Omicron subvariant.The country added 39,196 new COVID-19 infections, including 338 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,641,278, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Thursday's figure also more than doubled from 18,511 cases logged a week earlier, as the country has seen an upturn in infections from end-June due to the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5.The daily count hit over 10,000 on June 29 for the first time in about three weeks, and rose to over 20,000 on Saturday and further to 40,000 on Wednesday.The KDCA reported 16 deaths from the virus Thursday, putting the death toll at 24,696. The fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent.The number of critically ill patients came to 69, up from the previous day's 67. Despite the surge in new infections,

Jul 14, 2022
Korea confirms first case of new heavily mutated Omicron variant

Yoon's 'scientific' quarantine policy put to test amid COVID-19 resurgence

People wait to receive a COVID-19 test at a screening center set up for overseas travelers at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. YonhapGovernment lowers age eligibility of 4th vaccine dose to 50By Lee Hyo-jin The government on Wednesday announced a set of quarantine measures in an effort to respond to the resurgence of infections driven by the highly contagious BA.5 subvariant of Omicron, which is soon expected to become the dominant strain here.These were the first pandemic-related measures introduced by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which has vowed to carry out quarantine policies based on scientific data.Medical experts, however, had doubts about whether the measures would be effective in curbing the new wave of infections, which may lead to as many as 200,000 daily cases by mid-September.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) decided to lower the age of eligibility for a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 50, from the current 60. People with underlying diseases aged 18 and over have also become eligible for the second booster.The government did not

Jul 13, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Yoon's 'scientific' quarantine policy put to test amid COVID-19 resurgence

Gov't to expand eligibility for 4th coronavirus vaccine shot to people aged 50 and older

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a virus response meeting at the government complex in Seoul, July 13. YonhapPrime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that the government will expand eligibility for the fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot to people aged 50 and older as well as people aged 18 and older who have underlying health conditions. The move comes as the nation is facing another wave of virus resurgence, driven by the fast spread of the highly contagious mutation of the omicron strains, BA.5, which is known to be more contagious and better able to escape immunity compared with earlier versions."With the spread of BA.5 mutations, the resurgence is starting faster than originally expected," Han told a virus response meeting. Currently, people aged 60 and older and people who have an immune disorder are eligible for fourth COVID-19 vaccine shots.Han said the government will maintain a seven-day quarantine for people who are infected with the virus. Citing experts, Han said daily infections are expected to top 200,000 between mid-August and end-September. (Yonhap)

Jul 13, 2022
Gov't to expand eligibility for 4th coronavirus vaccine shot to people aged 50 and older

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit over 40,000 for first time in 2 months

People wait to undergo COVID-19 tests at a testing station in Seoul, July 12. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases rose to over 40,000 for the first time in two months as the country has experienced a resurgence of infections amid the fast spread of a highly contagious new Omicron subvariant.The country added 40,266 new COVID-19 infections, including 398 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,602,109, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.It is the first time that the daily count surpassed the 40,000 level since May 11, when the figure came to 43,908 amid the spread of Omicron.Wednesday's figure also more than doubled from 19,362 cases logged a week earlier, as the country has seen an upturn in infections from end-June due to the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5.The KDCA reported 12 deaths from the virus Wednesday, putting the death toll at 24,680. The fatality rate stood at 0.13 percent.The number of critically ill patients came to 67, down from the previous day's 74. Despite the surge in new infections, the number of critically ill pati

Jul 13, 2022
South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit over 40,000 for first time in 2 months

Proposed law on assisted dying reignites euthanasia row

Members of Eld Union, a civic group consisting of senior citizens, hold a rally near the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, June 16, calling for legalization of euthanasia. NewsisBy Lee Hyo-jin Debates on euthanasia, the deliberate ending of a person's life to relieve suffering, have been reignited in Korea due to a proposed law that would offer certain patients with terminal illnesses an end-of-life option. Earlier in June, Rep. Ahn Gyu-back of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed a revision to the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for patients in hospice care, or the so-called “Death with Dignity Act,” which would allow terminally ill patients to request a physician to assist in the process of ending their life. While the current measures ― in a limited way ― allow terminally ill patients to withdraw life-extending medical treatments under several key criteria such as confirmation by a family member and approval from the ethics committee at a medical institution, the revision bill goes a step further. Under the proposed bill, eligib

Jul 12, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Proposed law on assisted dying reignites euthanasia row
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