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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.

'Less lethal' Omicron leads to record-high deaths, critical cases

People wait in lines to receive a COVID-19 test at a screening center near Seoul Station, Monday. YonhapCritical cases hit all-time high of 1,158By Lee Hyo-jin Korea is grappling with record-high deaths and critical cases due to the sheer volume of new infections fueled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, although the variant has been found to be less lethal than previous variants of the coronavirus. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 309,790 new infections for Sunday, raising the aggregated total to 6,866,222. The number of patients in severe condition in total came to 1,158, breaking the previous record of 1,151 set in the midst of the Delta wave on Dec. 29, 2021.The KDCA added 200 COVID-19-related fatalities for Sunday, down from Saturday's 251. Daily new deaths hit a record high on Friday at 269. Health ministry data showed that 60 percent of hospital beds reserved for severely ill COVID-19 patients were occupied as of last week, up by 10 percent points from the previous week. Although the Omicron variant is known to be th

Mar 14, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
'Less lethal' Omicron leads to record-high deaths, critical cases
  • Korea, Germany, Vietnam account for 41% of weekly COVID-19 cases worldwide
  • Korea's daily COVID-19 cases stay above 300,000 for 4th day

COVID-19: Daily critical cases hit new high

People wait in line for a COVID-19 test at a pop-up screening clinic near Seoul Station in Seoul, March 14. Yonhap Korea added more than 300,000 new COVID-19 cases for a third consecutive day Sunday as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to grip the nation.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 309,790 new infections, the majority of which were local transmissions, putting the total caseload at 6,866,222. The number is down from Saturday's 350,190, largely due to fewer tests at the weekend. South Korea logged an all-time high of 383,664 Friday, after reporting more than 300,000 cases for the first time last Tuesday. The death toll from COVID-19 came to 10,595, up 200 from Sunday, with a fatality rate of 0.15 percent. The number of critically ill patients hit a record high of 1,158, up 84 from the previous day. South Korea has seen infection cases spike exponentially since the beginning of this year, with daily figures soaring fro

Mar 14, 2022
COVID-19: Daily critical cases hit new high
  • Gov't to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19
  • Korea, Germany, Vietnam account for 41% of weekly COVID-19 cases worldwide

Gov't to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19

A child receives a shot of an influenza vaccine at a clinic in Songpa District, Seoul, Sep. 14, 2021. The government will begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 late this month, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said Monday. Korea Times file The government will begin vaccinating children aged five t0 11 against COVID-19 late this month, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said Monday.The safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children has been sufficiently proven abroad while COVID-19 patients aged 11 or under have surpassed 15 percent of all cases in the country, Jeon said during a COVID-19 response meeting."The government will carry out vaccinations for young children aged between five and 11, who have been excluded from inoculation, from late March," he said. Vaccination for the age group will begin March 31 at 1,200 clinics nationwide, with reservations available starting March 24, the minister added. The government approved the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vacc

Mar 14, 2022
Gov't to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19
  • COVID-19: Daily critical cases hit new high
  • Korea, Germany, Vietnam account for 41% of weekly COVID-19 cases worldwide

Military reports 1,873 more COVID-19 cases

Soldiers wait to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at a military hospital in Seongnam, south of Seoul, April 28, 2021. YonhapThe military said Sunday it added 1,873 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload among its domestic personnel to 36,687. Of the new cases, 1,236 came from the Army, 286 from the Air Force, 237 from the Navy, 61 from units under the direct control of the defense ministry and 27 from the Marine Corps. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported six new cases, and the defense ministry reported 20 cases. Currently, 8,160 military personnel are under treatment. (Yonhap)

Mar 13, 2022
Military reports 1,873 more COVID-19 cases
  • Gov't to accept both PCR and rapid antigen tests

Gov't to accept both PCR and rapid antigen tests

A medical worker looks at COVID-19 rapid antigen test results at a screening center in front of Seoul City Hall, Friday. YonhapDaily infections above 350,000 for 2nd day; 251 more COVID-19 deaths reportedBy Lee Hae-rinThe government has decided to temporarily accept rapid antigen test results by medical professionals to confirm COVID-19 infections without conducting PCR tests, as the number of daily cases surpass 350,000.The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced Sunday that the positive results of rapid antigen tests conducted at medical facilities will be counted as equal to that of a PCR test for a month, starting Monday.Health authorities explained that the rapid antigen test has become more accurate as the COVID-19 caseload grew, with its prediction rate reaching 94.7 percent. As the country faces a shortage of medical resources, the government plans to limit conducting PCR tests and focus on providing timely treatment and preventing deaths, especially for critical cases among people aged over 60 and unvaccinated minors.Health experts agree that the ne

Mar 13, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
Gov't to accept both PCR and rapid antigen tests
  • Foreign ministry extends COVID-19 advisory against all overseas travel
  • Military reports 1,873 more COVID-19 cases

Foreign ministry extends COVID-19 advisory against all overseas travel

The arrival hall of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, is seen March 11. YonhapThe foreign ministry renewed its COVID-19 special advisory against all overseas travel for another month Sunday in what is expected to be the last extension of the advisory that was first issued two years ago.In the advisory effective until April 13, the ministry warned against travelling to all countries and regions due to the global spread of the omicron variant, while asking those overseas to take measures to prevent exposure to the virus.The advisory was first issued in March 2020 and has been extended every month.Sunday's extension is expected to be the last as the ministry said it would shift to country-specific advisories next month from the blanket advisory.The government also announced Friday that foreign arrivals who have completed vaccination and registered their vaccination records with the government in advance will be exempt from self-quarantine starting March 21. (Yonhap)

Mar 13, 2022
Foreign ministry extends COVID-19 advisory against all overseas travel
  • Gov't to accept both PCR and rapid antigen tests

New COVID-19 cases above 350,000 for 2nd day amid omicron wave

People wait in line to receive a COVID-19 test at a testing center in Seoul, Saturday. YonhapKorea's daily COVID-19 cases stayed above 350,000 for the second straight day Saturday as the country continues to grapple with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 350,190 new infections, including 350,157 local ones, raising the total caseload to 6,556,453. The tally fell from an all-time high of 383,665, Friday, due largely to less testing on the weekend.The Omicron variant is spreading at a breakneck speed as daily infections exceeded the 300,000 mark for the first time Tuesday, just a week after topping 200,000. Total cases also reached 6 million Friday, jumping from 5 million in just three days.The surge in virus cases also pushed up the number of COVID-19 deaths and critically ill patients.The country added 251 more deaths, raising the total to 10,395, according to the KDCA, for a fatality rate of 0.16 percent.The number of seriously ill virus patients came to 1,074, up from the previous day's 1,066.On Friday, the heal

Mar 13, 2022
New COVID-19 cases above 350,000 for 2nd day amid omicron wave

New COVID-19 cases hit record high of over 380,000; death toll tops 10,000

People wait in line for a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing center in Seoul, March 11. YonhapSouth Korea's daily COVID-19 infections hit another record high of over 380,000 for Friday amid the continuing Omicron surge, with the death toll surpassing 10,000. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 383,665 new cases, including 383,590 local ones, raising the total caseload to 6,206,277. This was the largest-ever daily count, surpassing the previous high of 342,446 cases tallied for Tuesday. Total cases also reached 6 million, rising from 5 million in just three days.The more transmissible Omicron variant-fueled surge in infections has led to more COVID-19 deaths, and severe and critical cases.The country confirmed 269 more deaths, breaking the previous record of 229 set Thursday and bringing the accumulated toll to 10,144 with a fatality rate of 0.16 percent.Severe and critical virus cases dropped by 50 from the previous day to 1,066 ― the record high was 1,151 recorded Dec. 29.The health authorities earlier said the country is expected to experience the peak

Mar 12, 2022
New COVID-19 cases hit record high of over 380,000; death toll tops 10,000
  • Korea to drop self-quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers

Korea to drop self-quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers

gettyimagesbankStarting March 21, fully vaccinated South Koreans and foreign visitors from overseas do not need to self-quarantine, except for those from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar.Currently all people who enter South Korea should self-quarantine for seven days regardless of their vaccine status.From April, foreign visitors and South Koreans who return home from overseas trips will be allowed to take public transportation from the airport to their destinations. At the moment, private cars and "quarantine taxis" are only permitted as a means of transportation. On Wednesday, South Korea initially reported a record high of 342,446 cases, which was later adjusted to 342,429, still a record. The accumulated virus cases surpassed the 5 million mark. For Thursday, the initial announcement was 327,549 cases, but the figure was later changed to 327,538.It took South Korea more than two years to reach the first 1 million coronavirus cases but only slightly over two weeks to record the next 1 million.The third, fourth and fifth 1 million cases came even faster, in six, four and f

Mar 11, 2022
Korea to drop self-quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers
  • Korea's daily COVID-related deaths hit record high
  • New COVID-19 cases hit record high of over 380,000; death toll tops 10,000

Korea's daily COVID-related deaths hit record high

People wait in line for COVID-19 tests at a pop-up screening clinic in front of Seoul Squares, March 11. Yonhap Korea's daily COVID-19 cases fell below 300,000 Thursday after spiking to a record high two days earlier, but deaths hit a fresh high amid the continued surge of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 282,987 new infections, including 282,880 local ones, raising the total caseload to 5,822,626.The Omicron-fueled surge in infections has recently led to more COVID-19 deaths, and severe and critical infection cases.The country confirmed 229 COVID-19 deaths, breaking the previous record of 216 set Saturday for an accumulated toll of 9,875, and a fatality rate of 0.17 percent.Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said earlier in the morning that the country is expected to see the Omicron wave peak between Saturday and March 22 with daily cases going up to 370,000.On Tuesday, daily infections hit a record hig

Mar 11, 2022
Korea's daily COVID-related deaths hit record high
  • Korea to drop self-quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers
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