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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.

Gov't lifts vaccine pass at some facilities despite infections rising above 4,000

A medical worker wearing protective gear in a booth prepares to take samples in sub-zero temperatures at a temporary screening clinic for COVID-19 in Seoul, Jan. 14. AP-YonhapDaily COVID-19 infections climbed back above 4,000 for Monday as the health authorities remain vigilant over a possible upsurge in cases and the spread of the Omicron variant ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 4,072 new infections, including 3,763 local ones, raising the total caseload to 700,102.The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 543, as the KDCA added 45 more deaths, raising the toll to 6,378 for a fatality rate of 0.91 percent.The number of imported cases was tallied at 309, bringing the total of imported cases to 21,932.On Tuesday, the government lifted the vaccine pass program at several kinds of multiuse facilities nationwide, including department stores, large discount stores, cinemas and cram schools.Still, the KDCA has said the vaccine pass system will remain in effect at facilities such as cafes, restaurants, nightclu

Jan 18, 2022
Gov't lifts vaccine pass at some facilities despite infections rising above 4,000
  • Gov't to offer up to 5 million won in medical fee assistance to students with post-vaccine symptoms

Vaccine pass at large retailers lifted

People scan smartphone QR codes to enter a retail store in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The government has made a U-turn over the enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine passes at large retailers and malls in the wake of a court ruling ordering the suspension of the vaccine mandate at the facilities. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Monday that the vaccine pass on six types of multiuse facilities ― large retailers and department stores, study rooms, museums, libraries, cram schools and theaters ― will be lifted on Tuesday. The authorities said these facilities have relatively lower risk of virus transmission as visitors can wear face masks properly there, adding that the vaccine mandate will remain in place at other higher-risk places such as eateries, cafes and indoor gyms.“Our medical capacity has increased and infections are showing signs of slowdown compared to December of last year when the vaccine pass was expanded to multiuse facilities,” said Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol during a COVID-19 response meeting, Monday. “So, we vi

Jan 17, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Vaccine pass at large retailers lifted
  • Universities uncertain about in-person classes amid Omicron spread
  • Complaints grow among eatery owners after gov't decides to keep COVID-19 vaccine pass

Gov't sticks to youth vaccine pass despite court's restraining orders

gettyimagesbankThe planned expansion of the government's COVID-19 vaccine pass to include 12- to 18-year-olds will be implemented in March as scheduled, a government agency said Monday, despite a Seoul court's recent ruling to rein in the mandate at educational facilities.The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said the government will stick to its policy of enforcing the youth vaccine pass program beginning March 1, citing a high percentage of teenagers among new daily COVID-19 cases.Since November, South Koreans over 18 have been required to present a vaccine pass or a negative PCR test conducted within the previous 48 hours to enter various multiuse facilities.But the Seoul Administrative Court suspended the vaccine pass mandate for cram schools, public study rooms and study cafes, Jan. 4, responding to a petition for a preliminary injunction.Moreover, the same court again ordered Friday that vaccine pass requirements be halted for minors aged 12 to 18 at all facilities in Seoul, pending the outcome of the main lawsuit filed last month by opponents of the vacci

Jan 17, 2022
Gov't sticks to youth vaccine pass despite court's restraining orders
  • Complaints grow among eatery owners after gov't decides to keep COVID-19 vaccine pass

Complaints grow among eatery owners after gov't decides to keep COVID-19 vaccine pass

Warning signs against COVID-19 are placed at a train station in Seoul, Jan. 17. AP-YonhapComplaints have been mounting among owners of cafes and restaurants after the government decided Monday to keep its COVID-19 vaccine pass requirements for eateries, while suspending its enforcement at other multiuse facilities.The government decided to halt vaccine pass requirements at department stores, supermarkets, cram schools and theaters nationwide starting Tuesday, after the Seoul Administrative Court ordered a suspension of these at such facilities in the capital. Court officials said these facilities were where people rarely took off their protective face masks. The vaccine pass system, which has been in effect since November, requires people to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result when entering restaurants, cafes and other multiuse facilities.Some eatery owners in Seoul slammed the decision, calling for a uniform suspension of the program. "It is inconsistent to only exempt supermarkets from the vaccine pass system. ... Markets are the same (as other facilitie

Jan 17, 2022
Complaints grow among eatery owners after gov't decides to keep COVID-19 vaccine pass
  • Omicron set be dominant COVID-19 variant in Korea
  • Vaccine pass at large retailers lifted
  • Gov't sticks to youth vaccine pass despite court's restraining orders

Omicron set be dominant COVID-19 variant in Korea

A health worker wearing protective gear helps a visitor to receive a COVID-19 test, amid sub-zero temperatures, at a temporary screening clinic for the coronavirus in Seoul, Jan. 14. AP-YonhapDaily COVID-19 infections fell below 4,000 for the first time in a week Sunday, but health authorities remained vigilant over a possible resurgence due to the fast spread of the Omicron variant amid partially eased antivirus curbs.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported added 3,859 new cases, including 3,551 local ones, raising the total caseload to 696,032.The figure marks a fall from 4,193 new cases logged the previous day, when the tally stayed above the 4,000 level for the fifth straight day.The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 579, falling below 600 for the first time in more than 50 days, the KDCA said.Twenty-three more COVID-19 deaths were recorded, raising the toll to 6,333 for a fatality rate of 0.91 percent.The number of imported cases came to 308, compared with a daily high of 406 reported for Friday, according to the authorities.On Monday, t

Jan 17, 2022
Omicron set be dominant COVID-19 variant in Korea
  • Complaints grow among eatery owners after gov't decides to keep COVID-19 vaccine pass

Contradicting court rulings over vaccine pass stoke confusion

Visitors scan smartphone QR codes for entry logs at a discount store in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap9 pm curfew extended through Feb. 6, private gathering limit raised to sixBy Lee Hyo-jin Two contradicting court rulings over the COVID-19 vaccine pass scheme are causing public confusion, with calls mounting from residents outside Seoul to suspend the vaccine pass altogether.The vaccine pass, which requires visitors to show either a proof of vaccination or negative PCR test result to access multiuse facilities, is facing continuous challenges due to a strong public backlash involving multiple lawsuits.A Seoul administrative court on Friday ordered the suspension on the vaccine pass system on large supermarkets, discount outlets and department stores measuring 3,000 square meters or more in Seoul, partially accepting an injunction request filed by 1,023 people including doctors.The suspension was limited to the capital area as the court only accepted the injunction against the Seoul Metropolitan Government, dismissing other stay of execution orders filed against the Ministry of Health and Wel

Jan 16, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Contradicting court rulings over vaccine pass stoke confusion

Daily cases over 4,000 for 5th day amid strict curbs ahead of holiday

A man gets tested for COVID-19 at a testing center in Seoul Station, Jan. 16. YonhapDaily COVID-19 infections stayed above 4,000 for the fifth straight day Saturday as the health authorities remain vigilant over a possible upsurge in cases and the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 4,194 new infections, including 3,813 local ones, raising the total caseload to 692,174.The figure was smaller than the previous day's 4,419 but marked the fifth consecutive day that the figure was above 4,000.Twenty-nine more deaths were recorded, raising the toll to 6,310, with a fatality rate of 0.91 percent, according to the health authorities. Imported cases were tallied at 381, compared with a daily high of 409 reported Friday.The number of critically ill patients stood at 612, down from the previous day's 626.The daily cases are showing signs of staying relatively lower after reaching a daily peak of nearly 8,000 cases in mid-December, but the health authorities remain on alert

Jan 16, 2022
Daily cases over 4,000 for 5th day amid strict curbs ahead of holiday

Daily cases over 4,000 for 4th day amid extended virus curbs

People take COVID-19 tests at a testing site near Seoul Station in Seoul, Jan. 15. Yonhap Daily COVID-19 infections stayed above 4,000 for the fourth consecutive day Friday, as the health authorities maintained tight vigilance with the extension of strict social distancing measures for three more weeks.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 4,423 new cases, including 4,077 local ones, raising the total caseload to 687,984.Twenty-two more deaths were also recorded, raising the death toll to 6,281, with a fatality rate of 0.91 percent, according to the health authorities, which also reported 626 critically ill patients.The number of imported cases was tallied at 346, down from a daily high of 409 reported Friday.The health authorities have been on high alert as concerns persist over a possible resurgence of the virus due to the fast spread of the Omicron variant ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday later this month.The government has decided to

Jan 15, 2022
Daily cases over 4,000 for 4th day amid extended virus curbs

Patients of rare diseases slam DPK candidate's health insurance coverage plan for hair loss treatment

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung sweeps his hair up in a YouTube video posted Jan. 4, to collect public opinion about his pledge to include hair loss treatment in national health insurance coverage. Captured from YouTubeBy Kwon Mee-yooRuling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's pledge to include hair loss treatment in national health insurance coverage is drawing protest from patients with rare, incurable diseases, many of which are excluded from the public health insurance.The Korean Organization for Rare Diseases (KORD) released a statement, Thursday, lamenting Lee's hair loss treatment proposal. "There are still many patients with rare life-threatening diseases, including babies born with rare disorders in this era of ultra-low fertility, and they are not guaranteed access to treatment due to the high cost of new, orphan drugs. It is not proper to discuss expanding the coverage of national health insurance to hair loss treatment in this situation," the organization said in the statement.An “orphan drug” r

Jan 14, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Patients of rare diseases slam DPK candidate's health insurance coverage plan for hair loss treatment
  • National insurance coverage for hair loss treatment becomes Lee's official campaign pledge

Vaccine pass system partially suspended

Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol, right, speaks about changes to the government's COVID-19 response during a press conference at the Government Complex Seoul, Friday. YonhapCurfew to continue for 3 more weeks with eased rules for private gatheringsBy Bahk Eun-jiA court has partially suspended the government's vaccine pass system, allowing people to enter large supermarkets, department stores and retail stores without providing their COVID-19 vaccination status.The pass system will remain effective for eateries and cafes, however.The Seoul Administrative Court partially accepted the injunction request filed by 1,023 people including doctors, religious leaders and citizens against Seoul City, Friday, to suspend the vaccine pass scheme for the big stores in Seoul. The suspension will continue until the court makes a separate ruling on their complaints to nullify the scheme.The decision halted the vaccine pass system at the stores with floor space of 3,000 square meters or larger. As the complaints were about the pass system in the capital, the suspension is also limited to Seoul.For usin

Jan 14, 2022By Bahk Eun-ji
Vaccine pass system partially suspended
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