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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.

Schools cautiously resume in-person classes amid surging infections

Students at an elementary school in Dongnae District of Busan head to class, Sept. 6. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin All kindergartens and schools across the country will return to full-scale in-person classes from Monday, despite the continuous surge in daily COVID-19 infections and the number of critically ill patients. While the government has eased social distancing regulations from Nov. 1 under the first step of its three-phase plan on “returning to normalcy,” full resumption of students' in-person attendance has been pushed back until after the national college entrance exam, which took place on Thursday.Although students in regions outside the Seoul metropolitan region returned to their classrooms from September, the full resumption of in-person classes in the capital region was postponed due to the unrelenting number of infections in the area.According to the Ministry of Education, 97 percent of schools in the greater Seoul area will be holding in-person classes from Monday. Other face-to-face activities, such as club meetings and field trips, will be expanded gradually dep

Nov 21, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Schools cautiously resume in-person classes amid surging infections

Daily infections above 3,000 for 5th day amid concerns over virus resurgence

South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Young-rok gets COVID-19 booster shot at a clinic in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, Nov. 20. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 3,000 for the fifth consecutive day Sunday amid concerns over the full-fledged reopening of schools and a virus resurgence ahead of winter. The country reported 3,120 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,098 local infections, raising the total caseload to 415,425, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Daily infections have stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7 due to growing cluster infections and the spread of more transmissible variant cases. The country added 30 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 3,274. The fatality rate stood at 0.79 percent. The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 517, up nine from a day earlier.Daily cases have not shown signs of slowing down in recent weeks, as the country began easing virus curbs on Nov. 1 in the first of the three-phase "living with COVID-19" scheme for a gradual return to normalcy.Under the f

Nov 21, 2021
Daily infections above 3,000 for 5th day amid concerns over virus resurgence

Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hover over 3,000 for 4th day

A medical staff member collects specimens from a person for COVID-19 testing at a temporary screening station in front of Seoul Station, Nov. 19. Yonhap New COVID-19 infections stayed above 3,000 for the fourth consecutive day here Friday, raising concerns over a virus resurgence ahead of winter and the full-fledged reopening of schools.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 3,212 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,194 local ones, raising the total caseload to 412,311. Friday's number was up 178 from the previous day and marks the third-largest tally since the pandemic began. Daily cases have stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7 amid growing infection clusters and the spread of more transmissible variants. The country added 29 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 3,244 for a fatality rate of 0.79 percent.The number of critically-ill patients reached 508, surpassing the 500 threshold for the first time in two days.Daily infections hav

Nov 20, 2021
Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hover over 3,000 for 4th day

Gov't criticized over lack of planning on critical cases

Medical worker guides people to receive COVID-19 tests at a screening center in Seoul Station, Friday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe government's lack of measures to deal with the fallout from its eased antivirus restrictions under the “Living with COVID-19” plan has prompted confusion in the medical field. In particular, critics point out that indicators for evaluating the risk of COVID-19 do not properly reflect how bad the coronavirus situation is.According to data from local governments, the rapid increase in infections is leading to a shortage of hospital beds, especially in intensive care units (ICUs).In the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, 81.5 percent of ICU beds were occupied as of Saturday. The rate in Seoul alone was 82.9 percent, showing a more serious bed shortage problem. Of the total 345 ICU beds in Seoul, 286 are in use, leaving 59 available.Experts point out that the government's lack of preparation before easing the antivirus restrictions has led to the deficiency of ICU beds in the metropolitan area.“Compared to the current inc

Nov 19, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Gov't criticized over lack of planning on critical cases

Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hover over 3,000 for 3rd day

A medical worker in a booth takes a nasal sample from a disinfection worker during coronavirus testing at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Sept. 19. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 3,000 for the third consecutive day Friday amid deepening concerns over the continued growth in critical cases and strained medical resources. The country reported 3,034 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,011 local infections, raising the total caseload to 409,099, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Friday's figure marked a fall from an all-time high of 3,292 the previous day, but it is still the fourth-largest daily tally since the pandemic began. The daily tally exceeded 3,000 on Wednesday for the second time ever.Daily cases have stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7 amid growing cluster infections.The country added 28 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 3,215. The fatality rate stood at 0.79 percent.The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 499, down seven from the previous day, according to the KDCA. Critic

Nov 19, 2021
Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hover over 3,000 for 3rd day
  • In-person school classes to fully resume next week

Flip-flopping on vaccine policy irks public, lowers trust in gov't

People wait in line for coronavirus testing at a public health center in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, Thursday. YonhapDaily new infections surge to all-time high at 3,292By Lee Hyo-jin The government's inconsistent COVID-19 vaccination policies are inconveniencing the public, with some beginning to lose trust in the inoculation program due to frequent changes to dose intervals and age limits.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced Wednesday the shortening of the interval between primary vaccinations and booster shots to four months, from the previous six, for people aged over 60 and residents at nursing homes.The dosage gap will be reduced to five months for those aged over 50, as well as priority groups including police officers, firefighters and soldiers.In addition, the government has suspended the administration of the Moderna vaccine on individuals aged under 30 due to higher risk of heart inflammation in that age group. Beginning Thursday, those who have received a first Moderna dose will be administered with a Pfizer one for their second dose.

Nov 18, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Flip-flopping on vaccine policy irks public, lowers trust in gov't
  • Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hit new record high

Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hit new record high

A man wearing a face mask walks past a banner reminding the precautions against the coronavirus in Seoul, Oct. 29. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases hit an all-time high on Thursday since the start of the pandemic amid eased social distancing rules, putting health authorities on alert over further upticks.The country reported a record high of 3,292 new daily cases, including 3,272 local infections, raising the total caseload to 406,065, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Thursday's daily caseload marks the highest since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January last year and exceeds the previous record of 3,270 reported on Sept. 25.The surge in daily cases came after the country began easing antivirus restrictions for a gradual return to pre-pandemic life under the "living with COVID-19" scheme earlier this month.Daily cases have stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7 amid growing cluster infections.The country added 29 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 3,187. The fatality rate stood at 0.78 percent.O

Nov 18, 2021
Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hit new record high
  • Korea shortens interval for booster shots amid increasing breakthrough cases
  • Flip-flopping on vaccine policy irks public, lowers trust in gov't

USFK begins COVID-19 inoculation program for children

First grade student, seven-year-old Rihanna Chihuaque, receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Arturo Velasquez Institute in Chicago, Illinois, last Friday. AFP-YonhapThe U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) started inoculating children in its affiliated community with a pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at three of its bases, officials said Wednesday. The vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11 started at the medical facilities in Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, and Camp Walker in Daegu, 300 km southeast of the capital, the USFK said.The vaccinations come after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer vaccine for the age group Oct. 29. An initial pediatric dose is one-third of the adult dose and administered with smaller needles specifically designed for children.The USFK said that while the vaccination is not mandatory, it strongly encourages "all eligible individuals to get vaccinated to help protect themselves, their family and our community." (Yonhap)

Nov 17, 2021
USFK begins COVID-19 inoculation program for children

Promoting women's health rights

Lee-Ahn So-young, right, head of the Korea Women's Environmental Network, holds a press conference with members of the Justice Party at the National Assembly, Wednesday, urging the government to provide menstrual products to all women and publically release study results on disposable menstrual pads' effects on women's health. Yonhap

Nov 17, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Promoting women's health rights

Korea shortens interval for booster shots amid increasing breakthrough cases

Medical workers at Seoul Medical Center monitor COVID-19 patients in an incentive care unit, Wednesday. YonhapEmergency risk evaluation to be conducted when over 75% of ICU beds are occupiedBy Jun Ji-hyeThe government has decided to shorten the interval between regular COVID-19 vaccine doses and booster shots from six months to four months for elderly residents over the age of 60 as well as inpatients and employees at nursing homes and geriatric hospitals.This will also be applied to those working at medical facilities. The interval will be reduced from six months to five months for citizens over the age of 50 in addition to soldiers, police officers and firefighters.Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced the decision, Wednesday, as part of measures to cope with a continued increase in breakthrough infections involving people who are testing positive for COVID-19 even after having been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.“Speeding up administering booster shots has become an urgent task to prevent further breakthrough infections,” Kim said during a government meeting

Nov 17, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Korea shortens interval for booster shots amid increasing breakthrough cases
  • Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hit new record high
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