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New infections jump to over 80,000 amid slowdown of Omicron wave

Health officials are seen at a COVID-19 testing center in central Seoul, April 26. YonhapDaily new COVID-19 cases jumped to over 80,000, Monday, as most of the country's virus restrictions were lifted amid the slowdown of the Omicron wave of the coronavirus. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 80,361 new infections, including 16 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,009,865. Monday's tally is sharply up from the 34,370 cases reported for Sunday as the daily counts tend to fall due to fewer tests on the weekend before rising toward the end of the week. The Omicron wave has been declining since the country's daily infections reached a peak of 621,178 cases, March 17.The death toll came to 22,325, up 82 from the previous day and the first time in 55 days the number has fallen to double digits, although the fatality rate remained at 0.13 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 613, down 55 from a day earlier.To reflect the weakening pandemic, the health authorities downgraded COVID-19 to the second-highest level of its four-tier infec

Apr 26, 2022
New infections jump to over 80,000 amid slowdown of Omicron wave

New infections drop to 30,000s amid slowdown of Omicron wave

Health officials are seen at a COVID-19 testing center in central Seoul, April 24, as the Omicron wave of the coronavirus continues to slow down.Korea's daily new COVID-19 cases dropped to the 30,000s, Sunday, for the first time in 76 days, as most of the country's virus restrictions were lifted amid the slowdown of the Omicron wave.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 34,370 new infections, including 31 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 16,929,564. The Omicron wave has been on the decline after the country's daily infections reached the peak of 621,178 cases, March 17.The death toll came to 22,243, up 110 from the previous day for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent; while the number of critically ill patients came to 668, down 53.To reflect the weakening pandemic, the health authorities downgraded COVID-19 to the second-highest level in their four-tier infectious disease control system early Monday.Of the locally transmitted infections, Gyeonggi Province added 9,058 and Seoul reported 4,763 cases, the KDCA said.As of midnight Sunday, 44.54 million

Apr 25, 2022
New infections drop to 30,000s amid slowdown of Omicron wave

Eating in cinemas, planes and public transport allowed starting today

A notice at a movie theater in Seoul reads that eating snacks will be allowed from Monday. YonhapCOVID-19 downgraded to Level 2 infectious diseaseBy Lee Hyo-jin Starting Monday, eating snacks in cinemas, sports venues, planes, long-distance buses and interregional trains will be allowed, as the government has further eased antivirus regulations amid the phased transition to post-Omicron daily life. In addition to their decision to remove social distancing measures on business operating hours and private gatherings from April 15, the health authorities have announced they are easing additional COVID-19 measures, except for the mask wearing requirement.Moviegoers and spectators at sport events will now be able to enjoy snacks, while department stores and supermarkets will be able to offer food samples to customers ― which has been prohibited since last July. Workers at a large supermarket in Seoul prepare to offer free coffee samples to customers, Sunday. Beginning Monday, department stores and supermarkets will be able to offer food and beverage samples, a practice that has been prohi

Apr 24, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Eating in cinemas, planes and public transport allowed starting today

New infections below 100,000 for 4th day amid ebbing Omicron wave

Euljiro Nogari Alley, a famed pub street in central Seoul, is crowded with people, April 23, after most of the COVID-19 social distancing rules were lifted earlier in the week. YonhapKorea's daily new COVID-19 cases stayed below 100,000 for the fourth day in a row Saturday as the Omicron wave continues to ebb.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 64,725 new infections, including 36 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 16,895,194. The Omicron wave has been declining after daily infections reached a peak of 621,178, March 17.The death toll came to 22,133, up 109 from the previous day for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent; while the number of critically ill patients came to 726, down from 738.To reflect the weakening pandemic, health authorities will downgrade COVID-19 to the second-highest level of its four-tier infectious disease control system Monday, the KDCA said. The government lifted major COVID-19 social distancing requirements, except a mask mandate, this past Monday. The removed restrictions included a curfew on the operating hours of restauran

Apr 24, 2022
New infections below 100,000 for 4th day amid ebbing Omicron wave

New virus cases below 100,000 for 3rd day

People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of COVID-19 walk across a pedestrian crossing during a lunch break in Seoul, April 19. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily tally of new COVID-19 cases stayed below 100,000 for the third day in a row Friday as the Omicron wave continues to gradually subside. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 75,449 infections, including 29 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 16,830,469.The new daily total is down 5,609 cases from a day earlier and down 32,467 from the previous week, marking the lowest number for a Friday since Feb. 11. The Omicron wave has been steadily declining after reaching a peak of 621,178 cases March 17.The death toll came to 22,024, up 151 from the previous day for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent; while the number of critically ill patients came to 738, down 95.Of the locally transmitted infections, Gyeonggi Province reported 18,441, Seoul added 12,352, and the southern city of Daegu, 3,966.As of midnight Friday, 44.53 million, or 86.8 percent of the 52 million population, had been fully vaccina

Apr 23, 2022
New virus cases below 100,000 for 3rd day

Eating at cinemas, indoor sports facilities to be allowed from next week: PM

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a meeting of the government's COVID-19 response committee at the Government Complex in Seoul, April 22. Yonhap Eating inside movie theaters, indoor gyms and religious facilities will be permitted starting next week, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday, following the government's lifting of social distancing restrictions earlier this week. Eating on trains and express buses will also be allowed as the government further eases COVID-19 curbs as part of efforts to return to normal life. "The average daily number of virus cases has declined about 40 percent from a week ago, while the downward trend continues in serious cases and deaths," Kim said during a COVID-19 response meeting. "But removing restrictions does not mean that the risk of infection is gone." Korea lifted most COVID-19 restrictions Monday, including the cap on gatherings and business hour curfews, while retaining the mask-mandate. Regarding concerns over the

Apr 22, 2022
Eating at cinemas, indoor sports facilities to be allowed from next week: PM

New virus cases below 100,000 for 2nd day amid slowdown of Omicron spread

Health officials are seen at a COVID-19 testing center in Seoul, April 21, as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is apparently receding. Korea reported fewer than 100,000 coronavirus cases for the second day in a row Friday as the omicron variant apparently is receding.The country added 81,058 new COVID-19 infections, including 15 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 16,755,055, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The new tally is down more than 44,000 cases, or around 36 percent, from a week ago and marks the lowest number for Friday since Feb. 18, as the highly contagious omicron variant is in retreat. The omicron-driven infections have been falling after peaking at 621,178 cases on March 17.The death toll from COVID-19 came to 21,873, up 206 from the previous day. The fatality rate was 0.13 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 833, down 13 from a day ago.Of the locally transmitted infections, Seoul repo

Apr 22, 2022
New virus cases below 100,000 for 2nd day amid slowdown of Omicron spread

Experts warn of new COVID-19 wave this fall

A COVID-19 screening center near Seoul Station is empty, Thursday, as the country sees a steady decline in new infections. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Local experts have warned that Korea may see another wave of COVID-19 infections this fall, during which as many as 2,700 fatalities could occur, depending on how many among the population have received a second booster shot.They described the current situation as a “hyper-endemic,” which means that the coronavirus is persistent at high levels, and urged caution over the possible emergence of a new variant. During a conference hosted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Wednesday, Jeong Eun-ok, a professor of mathematics at Konkuk University, projected that a new wave may hit the country as early as November or early next year, due to weakened immunity among the population. The professor predicted the wave would cause, roughly 700 to as many as 2,700 fatalities, depending on how many people receive a fourth injection of the vaccine. In the worst-case scenario, where most of the population is not inoculated wi

Apr 21, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Experts warn of new COVID-19 wave this fall

Number of obese people more than double over past 4 years

gettyimagesbankThe number of obese people in Korea more than doubled between 2017 and 2021, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed Thursday.According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of overweight patients increased from 14,966 in 2017 to 31,170 last year.The number of obese men increased by 3.4-fold to 9,676 and that of female patients grew by 1.7 times to 20,494.By age, those in their 30s made up the largest proportion at 22.1 percent, followed by those in their 40s at 21.6 percent and 50s at 13.2 percent.The increase was fastest among those younger than 20. The number of overweight teenage patients increased by 3.6-fold to 4,457, and the figure among those under 10 tripled to 3,102. The report said changing diets and increasing unhealthy habits during the pandemic appear to have contributed to the problem. "Lack of exercise and increased consumption of instant and delivery food can be seen as one of causes of the recent increase in obese patients," the institute said. "In particular, active attention and efforts from schools, par

Apr 21, 2022
Number of obese people more than double over past 4 years

New COVID cases fall below 100,000 as Omicron wave ebbs

People walk in the popular shopping district of Myeongdong in Seoul, April 20. Yonhap Korea reported fewer than 100,000 COVID-19 cases for Wednesday with the curve of the Omicron variant continuing its downward curve that started in mid-March.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 90,867 new infections, including 31 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 16,674,045.The new total is down 57,558 cases, or 38.7 percent, from a week ago and marks the lowest number for a Wednesday since Feb. 17.The Omicron-driven infections have been on the steady decline after peaking at 621,178 cases March 17.The overall death toll registered 21,667, up 147 from the previous day for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent; while the number of critically ill patients came to 846, up 38.Of the locally transmitted infections, Gyeonggi Province reported 22,620, Seoul, 15,192, and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, 4,667.As of midnight Wednesday, 44.53 million, or

Apr 21, 2022
New COVID cases fall below 100,000 as Omicron wave ebbs
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