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German scientist warns of ocean acidification

Axel Timmermann, director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics at Pusan National University, gives a lecture on ocean acidification at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Embassy of Germany in KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe impact of carbon dioxide on climate change is widely known, but it influence on oceans and marine life as it accumulates in the form of carbonic acid in the ocean is less spoken about. The German Embassy in Korea offered a lecture at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Wednesday, by Axel Timmermann, a German scientist studying climate change focusing on the ocean, to raise awareness about ocean acidification.German Ambassador to Korea, Michael Reiffenstuel, opened the event by highlighting the accomplishments of German scientists. Two German scientists won the Nobel Prize this year ― Klaus Hasselmann in physics and Benjamin List in chemistry."Germany and South Korea are both countries that have committed to rapid and significant reductions in their carbon dioxide emissions. And we hope that with today's event, we can provide further motivation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,&rd

Dec 18, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
German scientist warns of ocean acidification

New COVID-19 cases above 7,400 for 3rd day ahead of tough virus curbs

A medical worker guides people as they wait for their coronavirus test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Dec 16. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 7,400 for the third consecutive day Friday, with the country set to restore tight social distancing and other virus curbs to contain the fast spread of the virus. The country added 7,435 more COVID-19 cases, including 7,400 local infections, bringing the cumulative total to 551,551, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Friday's tally is down from the previous day's 7,622 and the record high of 7,850 reported Wednesday, but it is still a big jump from the daily counts that hovered in the 5,000-6,000 range earlier in the week. The KDCA said three more Omicron variant cases were reported, putting the total at 151. The number of critically ill patients came to 971, down from the all-time high of 989 reported Thursday. Deaths from the virus came to 73, the third-highest number since the pandemic, putting the total at 4,591. The fatality rate stood at 0.83 percent.A set of revised virus restric

Dec 17, 2021
New COVID-19 cases above 7,400 for 3rd day ahead of tough virus curbs

Korea's COVID-19 crisis likely to persist despite stricter distancing curbs: experts

Medical workers wearing protective gear transfers a COVID-19 patient to Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap Private gathering size cut to 4, unvaccinated face more restrictions By Lee Hyo-jin The government's latest social distancing measures, reintroduced in response to the country's worst ever COVID-19 crisis, may do little to contain the spread of the coronavirus by the year's end, according to medical experts. As the country continues to struggle with its biggest surge in infections since the pandemic outbreak, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced a return to tough social distancing restrictions Thursday, while officially halting the administration's plan for a “return to normalcy.”Under the new measures, regardless of vaccination records, the size of private gatherings will be reduced to four nationwide, down from the current six in the greater Seoul area and eight in other regions. Entertainment

Dec 16, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea's COVID-19 crisis likely to persist despite stricter distancing curbs: experts

Schools in capital area to turn back to online education amid surging COVID-19 cases

An elementary school student leaves his school in Seoul, Dec. 16. Schools in the greater Seoul area will roll back their full in-person classes and go back to partial online education starting next week, the Ministry of Education announced Thursday. YonhapSchools in the greater Seoul area will roll back their full in-person classes and go back to partial e-learning starting next week in line with the country's tightened anti-COVID-19 curbs, the education ministry announced Thursday.Under its restored e-learning scheme, middle and high schools in the greater capital area and densely populated schools outside the zone will run at two-thirds capacity of its normal level, starting Monday and to be effective till the winter vacation season in late December, the ministry said.Classes for elementary school students in their third to six years will run at 75 percent capacity, while the first and second years will continue with fully in-person classes, according to the ministry. Schools will also be advised against big in-person school activities, including graduation ceremonies, and given a

Dec 16, 2021
Schools in capital area to turn back to online education amid surging COVID-19 cases

Coronavirus: Number of critical cases hits new high

People wait for the coronavirus testing outside a public health center in Seoul, Dec. 15. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 7,000 for the second consecutive day Thursday and the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients rose close to 1,000 as the country prepares to bring back tougher virus curbs to stem the spread of the virus. The country added 7,622 more COVID-19 cases, including 7,591 local infections, bringing the cumulative total to 544,117, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Among them, the public health agency reported 20 omicron variant cases, putting the total at 148.The number of critically ill patients hit yet another fresh high of 989, up from the previous record of high of 964 recorded Wednesday.The latest infection tally marks a drop from the record high of 7,850 the previous day.Deaths from the virus rose by 62 to 4,518. The fatality rate stood at 0.83 percent.In an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the government announced it will reduce the maximum size of private gatherings to four people nationwide and res

Dec 16, 2021
Coronavirus: Number of critical cases hits new high

Gov't reduces private gathering size to 4 in fight against COVID-19

A man wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus walks along a shopping street in Goyang, Dec 15. AP-YonhapSouth Korea will reduce the maximum private gathering size to four people nationwide and restore a 9 p.m. curfew on restaurant and cafe business hours, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Thursday, as the government rolled back its "living with COVID-19" scheme amid surging infections.Under the new measures, which will be in effect from Saturday until Jan. 2, the use of restaurants and cafes will be restricted to up to four vaccinated people per visit. Those who have not been vaccinated will be able to use the facilities alone or request take-out or delivery, Kim said.Bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues will also be subject to the 9 p.m. curfew while movie theaters, concert halls and internet cafes, however, will be able to operate until 10 p.m., Kim said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.The differentiation is based on the extent to which masks can be worn and whether there is eating inside.The measures re

Dec 16, 2021
Gov't reduces private gathering size to 4 in fight against COVID-19

Korea halts 'return to normalcy' scheme

People waiting to receive a COVID-19 test stand in a long line that snakes outside a public health center in Songpa District, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapDaily virus cases hit fresh high of 7,850By Lee Hyo-jin The government has decided to halt its “return to normalcy” plan and reinstate strong social distancing measures, as the country continues to grapple with its worst ever COVID-19 crisis. The decision comes about six weeks since the implementation of the pandemic exit plan, under which the country was expected to gradually return to normalcy with eased distancing restrictions.“We are taking the current virus situation very seriously and plan to implement tougher social distancing measures,” Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting, Wednesday. “Among the measures currently under review are imposing stronger restrictions on private gatherings and putting limits on the operating hours (of multiuse facilities),” he said, adding that the government will announce detailed measures as soon

Dec 15, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea halts 'return to normalcy' scheme

Korea reports record highs of new COVID-19 infections and critical cases

Medical workers take nasal samples from people at a makeshift coronavirus testing site in Seoul, Dec, 14. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases and critically ill patients surged to fresh record highs Wednesday, with the government tipped to restore toughest virus curbs to contain the spread of infections.The country added 7,850 new COVID-19 infections, including 7,828 local infections, raising the cumulative caseload to 536,495, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).Wednesday's figure broke the previous record high of 7,174 cases last Wednesday. Daily virus cases have hovered in the range of 4,000-7,000 since early this month, weeks after the country began to ease the distancing rules from Nov. 1.The number of critically ill patients hit an all-time high of 964, up from the previous record high of 906 on Tuesday.Deaths from the virus rose by 70, bringing the total to 4,456. The record high death toll was 94 a day earlier. The fatality rate stood at 0.83 percent. The country reported nine more cases of the omicron variant, putting the total at 128

Dec 15, 2021
Korea reports record highs of new COVID-19 infections and critical cases

Gov't to toughen up gathering restrictions amid surge in new COVID-19 cases: PM

People queue in line to wait for a coronavirus test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Dec, 14. AP-YonhapSouth Korea is considering further reducing the maximum private gathering size and restoring curfews on business hours to tackle the fast spread of COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Wednesday.Kim made the announcement during a government meeting following sharp increases in case numbers and deaths, including an all-time high of 94 COVID-19 fatalities the previous day.The plan marks a reversal of the government's phased program for a return to normal that began last month with the loosening of virus restrictions."The government considers the current virus situation to be very serious and plans to implement a much more powerful social distancing scheme," Kim said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.Details of the new measures are expected to be announced on Friday and enforced for the next two weeks.Currently, private gatherings are limited to six people in the capital area and eight elsewhere, but the new measures

Dec 15, 2021
Gov't to toughen up gathering restrictions amid surge in new COVID-19 cases: PM

Korea set to strengthen quarantine measures this week

An error message appears on Naver's vaccination certificate app, at a restaurant in Seoul, Tuesday, the second day of the mandatory vaccine pass system at multiuse facilities. Yonhap Vaccine pass system malfunctions for 2nd consecutive dayBy Bahk Eun-jiThe government is expected to introduce tougher social distancing rules in the coming days in a desperate bid to curb the unrelenting spread of COVID-19 amid a surge in the number of coronavirus deaths and critically ill patients. Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, said in a radio interview Tuesday that a range of options had already been prepared and the administration would choose from among them according to the situation.“I don't think the government's countermeasures will be delayed or insufficient at this critical time,” he said. “We'll review the virus situation on Wednesday and Thursday.”Park's comments seemed to indicate that strengthened quarantine guidelines would be anno

Dec 14, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea set to strengthen quarantine measures this week
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