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New COVID-19 infections over 100,000 for 3rd day

Medical workers guide people as they wait for a COVID-19 test outside a public health center in Seoul, Feb. 17. AP-Yonhap Daily COVID-19 infections exceeded 100,000 for the third day in a row Saturday due to the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 104,829 new cases, including 104,732 local ones, raising the total caseload to 1,962,837. The rolling death toll from COVID-19 came to 7,405, up 51 from a day earlier for a fatality rate of 0.38 percent. The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients was up 31 to 439.Of the locally transmitted cases, 31,326 were in Gyeonggi Province, surrounding the capital, 22,100 were in Seoul and 9,188 in the western port city of Incheon.South Korea has seen caseloads spike in recent weeks as the Omicron variant has raged across the country, with the daily count nearly doubling in just a week after surpassing 50,000 for the first time Feb.

Feb 20, 2022
New COVID-19 infections over 100,000 for 3rd day

Korea reports more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases for 2nd day

People wait for COVID-19 tests outside a public health center in Seoul, Feb. 17. AP-Yonhap Korea saw more than 100,000 new COVID-19 infections for the second day in a row Friday amid the rapidly spreading the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 102,211 cases, including 102,072 local ones, raising the total caseload to 1,858,009. The death toll from COVID-19 reached 7,354, up 71 from Thursday for a fatality rate of 0.4 percent, the KDCA said. The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 408, up 23 from a day earlier. The country has seen caseloads spike in recent weeks as the Omicron variant has raged nationwide, with the daily count nearly doubling in just a week after surpassing 50,000 for the first time Feb. 10. Daily infections exceeded 100,000 for the first time Thursday. The health authorities forecast that the Omicron wave will likely start to peak between the end of

Feb 19, 2022
Korea reports more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases for 2nd day

Accuracy of rapid antigen tests called into question

People perform rapid antigen tests at a COVID-19 screening center in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinThe accuracy of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits has been thrown into doubt as an increasing number of people are seeing false negatives after using the self-testing kits.The low accuracy of rapid tests is raising concerns, as asymptomatic patients who have tested negative with the tests may be spreading the virus unwittingly, fueling the record-breaking spread of infections.Under the new testing scheme implemented on Feb. 3, the highly accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are now only available to high-risk groups aged 60 and above, people who have come into close contact with a COVID-19 case or people with a doctor's note citing the need for the lab-based test. Others can take the PCR test only after they have tested positive on the rapid antigen test. According to the Korean Society of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, the sensitivity of rapid tests was found to be less than 50 percent when performed by medical personnel, and less than 20 per

Feb 19, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Accuracy of rapid antigen tests called into question

Courts in three cities rule against youth vaccine pass

Civic activists hold a rally in front of the Seoul Government Complex in central Seoul, Feb. 17 to call for the nullification of the youth vaccine pass mandate. Yonhap Courts in three cities on Friday ruled against the government's plan to expand the COVID-19 vaccine pass system to include 12- to 18-year-olds, following recent similar decisions by courts in Seoul and Suwon.The Daejeon District Court ruled in favor of 96 plaintiffs, including teenagers, who opposed the planned enforcement of the youth vaccine pass system in Daejeon, 150 kilometers south of Seoul.The Incheon District Court in Incheon, 50 km west of Seoul, and the Busan District Court in the southern port city, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, made the same rulings in lawsuits filed by citizens and activists.Similarly, courts in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital, have recently ordered that vaccine pass requirements be halted for minors aged 12-18 at all facilities.Since Novembe

Feb 18, 2022
Courts in three cities rule against youth vaccine pass

'Adding fuel to fire': Experts denounce easing of social distancing measures

A monitor at the disaster control center in southeastern Seoul's Songpa District Office shows an all-time high of 109,831 new COVID-19 infection cases announced Thursday. Yonhap Daily new infections cases hit fresh high of 109,831By Lee Hyo-jin Medical experts have slammed the government for continuing to downplay the threat of the Omicron variant, including its latest decision to ease social distancing measures amid snowballing numbers of daily new infections, which reached another record high of 109,831 for Thursday, exceeding the 100,000 mark for the first time, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The daily tally has more than doubled in a just week from 53,920 reported last Thursday. Despite the record-breaking infections, however, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Friday that it will partially ease social distancing measures from Saturday, allowing multiuse facilities such as eateries and cafes to receive sit-in custom

Feb 18, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
'Adding fuel to fire': Experts denounce easing of social distancing measures

Korea's daily COVID-19 cases surpass 100,000, concerns rise over further increase

Medical workers guide people as they wait for COVID-19 tests outside a public health center in Seoul, Feb. 17. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily COVID-19 cases exceeded 100,000 on Friday for the first time since the pandemic began about two years ago as the highly transmissible Omicron variant spreads rapidly. The cases could continue to rise going forward as the government is set to partially relax social distancing rules this weekend, apparently to help small merchants taking the brunt of the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.The country reported 109,831 new COVID-19 infections, including 109,715 local cases, raising the total caseload to 1,755,806, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The death toll from COVID-19 came to 7,283, up 45 from Thursday. The fatality rate was 0.41 percent, the KDCA said.The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 385, down four from a day earlier, marking the fifth straight day that the tally stayed above 300.As of 9 p.m. Friday, the country had added 96,851 new COVID-19 cases, down 4,019 from the 92,832 cases post

Feb 18, 2022
Korea's daily COVID-19 cases surpass 100,000, concerns rise over further increase

Gov't to push back curfew on cafes, restaurants to 10 pm, keep gathering size limit at 6

People wait for COVID-19 tests outside a public health center in Seoul, Feb. 17. AP-YonhapThe government will push back the curfew on cafes and restaurants by one hour to 10 p.m. while keeping the private gathering size limit at six starting this weekend, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday.The easing of the social distancing rules comes despite a massive surge in new COVID-19 cases, with the country's daily virus cases exceeding the 100,000 mark for the first time Thursday since the pandemic began two years ago.The updated antivirus curbs will be in place from Saturday to March 13.The move comes amid a strong backlash from small merchants and self-employed people who have been complaining that tightened restrictions are dragging down their businesses.The authorities had reportedly considered raising the private gathering size limit to eight people but decided to maintain the current level as the virus situation is worsening with the Omicron variant."We could not overlook the reality of small merchants and self-employed people," Kim said during a COVID-19 response meeting. "Until

Feb 18, 2022
Gov't to push back curfew on cafes, restaurants to 10 pm, keep gathering size limit at 6

Korea's daily COVID-19 cases rise closer to 100,000 amid raging Omicron

Medical workers stand by to guide people as they wait for a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Feb. 16. AP-YonhapDaily COVID-19 cases hit yet another high Wednesday, exceeding 90,000 for the second consecutive day, amid few signs that the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant will subside.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 93,135 new infections, including 93,045 local ones, raising the total caseload to 1,645,978.The number of daily cases rose sharply Tuesday to surpass the 90,000 level for the first time ever, coming in at 90,443 and a massive jump from the previous day's 57,164, with the majority of infections being caused by the Omicron variant.The daily tally has nearly doubled in a week, and more than quadrupled compared with two weeks ago. The death toll from COVID-19 came to 7,238, up 36 from Tuesday for a fatality rate of 0.44 percent, the KDCA said.The number of critically ill patients came to 389, up 76 from a day earlier, with the daily total staying above 300 for the fourth straight day. The authorities have warned o

Feb 17, 2022
Korea's daily COVID-19 cases rise closer to 100,000 amid raging Omicron

NHIS' long-term care insurance to ease financial burden of aging society

An elderly woman participates in an arts and craft session at a nursing home. Courtesy of National Health Insurance Service By Lee Hyo-jinEveryone gets old. And as people age, they are more likely to suffer from various medical conditions and diseases, leaving them in need of care and assistance in their daily lives. But the question is, who will provide care and who will foot the bill? Caregiving for seniors has traditionally been perceived as a duty of their family members. Sons and daughters were responsible for the care ― both physically and economically ― of their elderly parents.But this outdated system has faced challenges in modern society. Unlike the past when extended families lived under one roof, family ties are loosening, with more and more elderly people living alone.As a result, the enhancement of public care services for the elderly population has become a priority for Korea, a country which is predicted to become a “super-aged society” by 2026, wher

Feb 17, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
NHIS' long-term care insurance to ease financial burden of aging society

Korea's daily COVID-19 cases spike to over 90,000 for first time

People wait for their coronavirus test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Feb. 14. AP-Yonhap South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases spiked to an all-time high Tuesday amid worries that the number could further increase as the government mulls easing current tough social distancing curbs later this week. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 90,443 new infections, including 90,281 local ones, raising the total caseload to 1,552,851.The latest figure is sharply up from the previous day when new daily cases hit a record high of 57,164.The death toll from COVID-19 came to 7,202, up 39 from Monday for a fatality rate of 0.46 percent, the KDCA said.The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients was 313, down one from a day earlier, but with the daily tally staying above 300 for the third straight day.Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said the number of infections has not reached a peak yet and the government will come up with measure

Feb 16, 2022
Korea's daily COVID-19 cases spike to over 90,000 for first time
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