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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.

Transition team calls for antibody testing, domestic production of oral anti-viral for COVID-19

Ahn Cheol-soo, right, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, speaks with Kim Byung-joon, who is in charge of the committee for national university, in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungAhn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee who concurrently serves as chairman of the subcommittee responsible for COVID-19 policy, has been critical of the Moon Jae-in government's COVID-19 response, calling it unscientific and politically motivated. Sharing the results of the subcommittee's first meeting held on Monday at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday, Ahn alleged that the Moon government made populist decisions based on public opinion, which explains why Korea's COVID-19 response has failed. “The new government will introduce scientific measures that are based on facts, rather than political consideration,” he said. Ahn unveiled the seven-point policy recommendations that summarized what he and other sub-committee members had discussed on Monday, expressing hope that the Moon government can adopt their policy recommendations in the fight a

Mar 22, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung
Transition team calls for antibody testing, domestic production of oral anti-viral for COVID-19

Daily coronavirus cases spike to over 350,000, total caseload nears 10 million

People wait in line for a COVID-19 test at a respiratory clinic in Seoul, March 22. YonhapKorea's new COVID-19 cases spiked again to over 350,000 Monday, adding to concerns that infections could climb further as the accumulated caseload nears 10 million.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 353,980 new case as of midnight, raising the total caseload to 9,936,540.The total caseload is expected to breach the grim milestone of 10 million within the day, meaning one in five Koreans has been infected with COVID-19.Monday's total tally marked a sharp climb from 209,169 reported Sunday. The number of new daily cases usually shrinks at the beginning of the week due to less testing over the weekend.The death toll came to 13,141, up 384 from Sunday, the KDCA said; while the number of critically ill patients stood at 1,104, down 26 from the previous day.Concerns lingered that daily infections could spike again as eased social distancing rules went into effect Monday as part of efforts to help small merchants and business owners taking the brunt of the pandemic due to l

Mar 22, 2022
Daily coronavirus cases spike to over 350,000, total caseload nears 10 million

Incheon airport gets busier after gov't lifts mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers

Quarantine officials check travelers at Incheon International Airport, Dec. 9, 2021. Yonhap Tourists and airport workers were heartened Monday as the country's nearly two-year-long mandatory quarantine for international travelers was lifted for fully vaccinated people. Starting Monday, those who completed their vaccination no more than 180 days ago or got a third booster shot will no longer be subject to a seven-day self-quarantine upon arrival from overseas, except those coming from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar.The quarantine exemption is expected to open up international travel for Koreans nearly two years after the first COVID-19 outbreak here and subsequent self-quarantine requirements on international arrivals.At Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, travelers welcomed the measure."We were going to go ahead with our honeymoon anyway despite any quarantine requirements, but the latest relaxation measure made our trip far easier

Mar 21, 2022
Incheon airport gets busier after gov't lifts mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers

Has Omicron wave crested in Korea?

People line up for COVID-19 testing at a screening center near Seoul Station, Monday. YonhapDaily new infections have slowed since last Wednesday By Lee Hyo-jin The peak of the Omicron wave in Korea may have passed, according to the health ministry, with daily new infections showing signs of slowing down. But concerns linger over another upsurge as the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron has been increasing its presence here amid eased social distancing rules.The country added 209,169 new infections for Sunday, a significant drop from 334,708 cases the previous day, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure has been declining steadily after hitting an all-time high of 621,281 last Wednesday. The agency reported the second-largest number of COVID-19-related fatalities at 329, with 1,130 patients in critical condition.The government previously said the Omicron wave would reach its peak between March 12 and 22, after which the country may see a downward trend in infections.“Daily infection cases have been falling for four straight days after hitting a

Mar 21, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Has Omicron wave crested in Korea?

Gov't to introduce oral COVID-19 medicine Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week

gettyimagesbank The government will introduce the oral COVID-19 medicine Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week while seeking an early procurement of additional doses, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said Monday.The planned introduction of the medicine, also known as Molnupiravir, by American multinational pharmaceutical company MSD comes amid rising demand for such oral medicine, the minister said during a pandemic response meeting.Over the weekend, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has said it is carefully considering the authorization of Molnupiravir for high-risk patients with mild to moderate symptoms who cannot take Paxlovid or Remdesivir for coronavirus treatment. "On top of the introduction of Paxlovid for 95,000 patients planned for April, the government is seeking an early procurement of additional oral COVID-19 medicine," Jeon noted. The minister said the country's daily infection cases have been on the downturn for four straight days after hitting

Mar 21, 2022
Gov't to introduce oral COVID-19 medicine Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week
  • Korea's daily coronavirus cases drop to 200,000s

Korea's daily coronavirus cases drop to 200,000s

People wait in line for a COVID-19 test at a pop-up screening clinic in western Seoul, March 20. Korea's new COVID-19 cases dropped to the 200,000s for the first time in 10 days. Yonhap Korea's new COVID-19 cases dropped to the 200,000s for the first time in 10 days Sunday due to less testing over the weekend, but concerns remain high that infections could spike again, after the government eased social distancing rules this week.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 209,169 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total caseload to 9,582,815.Sunday's total marked a sharp decline from a record high of 621,281 reported for Wednesday. The number of new daily cases usually shrinks at the beginning of the week due to less testing over the weekend.The death toll came to 12,757, up 329 from Saturday, the KDCA said; while the number of critically ill patients stood at 1,030, an increase of 97.Despite recent letups, concerns lingered that daily infectio

Mar 21, 2022
Korea's daily coronavirus cases drop to 200,000s
  • Gov't to introduce oral COVID-19 medicine Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week

Korea's new COVID-19 cases drop below 400,000

People wait in line for a COVID-19 test at a pop-up screening clinic near Seoul Station in Seoul, March 20. Yonhap Korea's new COVID-19 cases were below 400,000 for a second straight day Saturday but concerns remain high that infections could spike again after government eases social distancing rules this week.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 334,708 new infections, including 22 from overseas, raising the total caseload to 9,373,646.The latest tally was down from the previous day's daily cases of 381,454. It also marked a sharp drop from the all-time high of 621,281 reported for Wednesday.It is still uncertain as to whether daily infections have been trending down, given that cases recorded over the weekend tend to decline due to fewer tests.The total death toll came to 12,428, up 327 from Saturday for fatality rate of 0.13 percent. The tally was higher than 319 deaths reported a day earlier and represented the second highest following

Mar 20, 2022
Korea's new COVID-19 cases drop below 400,000

Korea reports 381,454 new COVID-19 infections

People wearing face masks as a precaution against COVID-19 at Cheonggye Stream in Seoul, March 17. AP-Yonhap South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell below 400,000, Friday, but concerns linger over the highly transmissible Omicron variant amid the government's move to shift away from rigorous social distancing.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 381,454 new infections, including 63 from overseas, raising the total caseload to 9,038,938. The latest tally is a sharp drop from the all-time high of 621,328, Wednesday, though the sudden spike in cases reflected some 70,000 cases omitted from the previous day's total.The death toll rose to 12,101, up 319 from Friday, for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent. The number of critically ill patients stood at 1,049, the same as the previous day. (Yonhap)

Mar 19, 2022
Korea reports 381,454 new COVID-19 infections

Gov't mulls lowering infectious disease level of COVID-19

A medical worker collects a sample from a visitor at a COVID-19 screening center near Seoul Station, Friday. Yonhap Limit on private gatherings eased to eightBy Lee Hyo-jin The government is reviewing whether to lower the infectious disease level of COVID-19, two years after the coronavirus was designated at “Level 1,” the highest level in its four-tier system, public health authorities said Friday. While the health authorities say downgrading the level would enable the more effective use of medical resources, medical experts view the move as premature, given that the country is currently at its worst point yet in the pandemic.The number of daily new COVID-19 infections for Thursday stood at 407,017, with 301 deaths and 1,049 patients in critical condition, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The country has added more than 1.4 million new cases in just the last three days, the highest ever here in such a short span of time.According

Mar 18, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Gov't mulls lowering infectious disease level of COVID-19
  • Struggling small merchants express frustration over meager virus curb relaxation

Struggling small merchants express frustration over meager virus curb relaxation

People dine at restaurants in Seoul, March 18. Starting March 21, the number of people allowed at a gathering will increase from six to eight, however, closing hours of such multiuse facilities will remain unchanged at 11:00 p.m. Yonhap Restaurants, cafes and other small business owners expressed their frustration Friday over the government's latest COVID-19 rule relaxation, with many questioning the efficacy of the gathering restriction when the nation is faced with its biggest virus wave to date. Earlier in the day, the government decided to raise the private gathering ceiling from the current six to eight starting Monday while maintaining the 11 p.m. business curfew. The announcement came as the fast spread of Omicron has pushed up the virus curve in recent weeks, with Wednesday's infections piling up to an all-time high of 621,328.Many small merchants struggling from slow business expressed disappointment at what they considered to be an insufficient relaxation

Mar 18, 2022
Struggling small merchants express frustration over meager virus curb relaxation
  • Gov't mulls lowering infectious disease level of COVID-19
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