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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.

Korea's 'Living with COVID-19' scheme may face setbacks

People wait in line for coronavirus tests at a testing center in Songpa District, Seoul, Friday. YonhapExperts show mixed responses over moving to next phaseBy Lee Hyo-jin The government's “Living with COVID-19” plan, which began on Nov. 1, may face setbacks due to the worsening coronavirus situation, raising uncertainties over whether the country will be able to move on to the next phase of the plan. The public health authorities plan to ease the social distancing measures gradually in three phases, with each transition slated for four to six weeks. After the current phase 1 ends in late November, the authorities will assess the virus situation and decide whether to proceed to phase 2 in December. But the faster-than-expected rise in the number of critically ill patients has put public health authorities on high alert.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the number of critically ill patients hit a fresh high of 485 as of Friday, breaking the record set the previous day. Saturday's figure also stood at 483.The patients are currently occupyi

Nov 12, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea's 'Living with COVID-19' scheme may face setbacks
  • New infections above 2,000 for 4th day amid concern over serious cases
  • Women's national football head coach Bell hospitalized with COVID-19

New infections above 2,300 for 3rd day amid growing concerns over serious cases

A high schooler in the southeastern city of Ulsan undergoes a COVID-19 test, Nov. 11, following a confirmed case among her friends. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 2,300 for the third consecutive day Friday, and the number of serious cases hit an all time-high amid eased antivirus curbs, health authorities said.The country reported 2,368 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 390,719, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The latest tally marked a fall from the previous day's 2,520, but the daily caseload has hovered over 2,000 for three days in a row. The daily tally has stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7, including the record high of 3,272 cases on Sept. 25.Of the total, 2,358 were local infections. Ten cases came from overseas, putting the cumulative total at 15,338.The country added 18 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 3,051. The fatality rate stood at 0.78 percent, the health authorities said.The number of patients in critical condition hit an all-time high of 475 on Friday, according to

Nov 12, 2021
New infections above 2,300 for 3rd day amid growing concerns over serious cases
  • Distrust over COVID-19 vaccinations continues

Distrust over COVID-19 vaccinations continues

Medical workers guide people at a COVID-19 testing center in Seoul's Songpa District, Thursday. YonhapGov't considers administering COVID-19 vaccines more regularlyBy Jun Ji-hyeAn increasing number of residents here are questioning the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations amid a continued increase in breakthrough infections involving people who tested positive even after having been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Concerns come as nearly half of infected people in recent weeks were breakthrough cases. Among 17,325 patients over the age of 18 who were confirmed to have COVID-19 between Oct. 17 and 30, 48.1 percent, or 8,336, had been fully vaccinated, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters. The number of breakthrough cases has been increasing rapidly month after month ― from seven in May to 116 in June, 1,180 in July, 2,764 in August, 8,913 in September and 15,311 in October.“I think more people now don't feel the need to get vaccinated, as vaccinations do not totally prevent infections,” a 37-year-old man who works for a startup in Seoul said. &ldquo

Nov 11, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Distrust over COVID-19 vaccinations continues
  • New infections above 2,300 for 3rd day amid growing concerns over serious cases

New infections over 2,400 for 2nd day amid eased virus curbs

People wait to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots at a gym on Jeju Island, Nov. 8. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 2,400 for the second consecutive day Thursday as the country relaxed its virus restrictions last week in line with the "Living with COVID-19" scheme.The country reported 2,520 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 388,351, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Thursday's tally marked a slight hike from the previous day's 2,425, which marked the first time in six days that daily infections exceeded 2,400.The daily infection tally has stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7, including the record high of 3,272 cases on Sept. 25.Of the total, 2,494 were local infections, the KDCA said. Twenty-six cases came from overseas, putting the cumulative total at 15,328.Of the locally transmitted cases, Seoul had 999 cases, with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province logging 816 cases and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, 186 cases.The death toll rose by 21 to 3,033 on Thursday, health authorities said. The fatality rate came to

Nov 11, 2021
New infections over 2,400 for 2nd day amid eased virus curbs

Korea may face 'twindemic' of COVID-19, flu this winter

A child receives a shot of an influenza vaccine at a clinic in Songpa District, Seoul, Sept. 14. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-sukRespiratory diseases may spread more easily under eased quarantine rulesBy Lee Hyo-jin Last year's flu season here was unusually mild thanks to COVID-19 precautions, but things may be different this year, according to health experts, who warn that the country may face a so-called “twindemic” of coronavirus and influenza infections this winter.Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a family of viruses that infect the nose, throat and even lungs in serious cases. Common symptoms of the illness include a high fever, coughing and a sore throat.Each year, the country grapples with a flu season which usually begins at the end of November, reaches its peak in December and lasts until as late as April. Last year, however, the recorded number of flu patients was significantly lower compared to previous years, thanks to the COVID-19-induced measures such as face masks, social distancing rules and enhanced pers

Nov 11, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea may face 'twindemic' of COVID-19, flu this winter

Jincheon's order to hire only vaccinated foreign workers draws criticism for discrimination

Workers in Jincheon County, North Chungcheong Province, wait for COVID-19 testing in this undated photo provided by the county office. Courtesy of Jincheon CountyBy Jun Ji-hyeJincheon County in North Chungcheong Province is facing criticism over its administrative order recommending local companies hire only migrant workers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.Critics say such a policy is clear discrimination against foreign nationals and will not be that helpful to employers either, as they have been suffering from a shortage of workers amid the prolonged pandemic. The county issued the administrative order, Tuesday, amid an increasing trend of infections among foreign residents. It has reported 65 new cases so far this month, and among them, 52.3 percent, or 34, were foreign residents. The order says local firms are recommended to hire only vaccinated foreign workers. It also mandates that foreign employees must go through COVID-19 testing every two weeks if they are unvaccinated.The county office said PCR tests are offered for free even to undocumented migrant workers,

Nov 10, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Jincheon's order to hire only vaccinated foreign workers draws criticism for discrimination
  • Critically ill COVID-19 patients hit record high

Critically ill COVID-19 patients hit record high

Medical personnel work in an intensive care unit for critically ill coronavirus patients at a hospital in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 5. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients here spiked to an all-time high Tuesday, raising concerns over whether the country will be able to move on to the next phase of the government's “Living with COVID-19” plan. Critically ill patients refer to those requiring ventilators, high-flow oxygen therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).Under the “Living with COVID-19” plan which began Nov. 1, the government is focusing more on the treatment of critical patients, rather than bringing down the number of daily new infections.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 460 such patients for Tuesday, up from 425 the previous day, hitting a record high for the COVID-19 pandemic which started here in February 2020. Of them, 82 percent were aged 60 or older.The severely ill patients are currently occ

Nov 10, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Critically ill COVID-19 patients hit record high
  • New infections bounce back to above 2,400 amid eased virus curbs
  • Jincheon's order to hire only vaccinated foreign workers draws criticism for discrimination

New infections bounce back to above 2,400 amid eased virus curbs

A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at a clinic in Seoul, Nov. 8. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases bounced back to above 2,400 for the first time in six days Wednesday amid growing concerns over a resurgence of infections as the country began its "living with COVID-19" scheme last week.The country reported 2,425 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 385,831, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Wednesday's tally marked a sharp hike from 1,715 reported a day earlier. The daily infection tally has stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7, including the record high of 3,272 cases on Sept. 25.Of the total, 2,409 were local infections, the KDCA said. Sixteen cases came from overseas, putting the cumulative total at 15,302.Of the locally transmitted cases, Seoul had 967 cases, with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province logging 863 cases and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, 159 cases.The death toll rose by 14 to 3,012 on Wednesday, health authorities said. The fatality rate came to 0.78 percent.The number of patients in serious or critic

Nov 10, 2021
New infections bounce back to above 2,400 amid eased virus curbs
  • Critically ill COVID-19 patients hit record high

Parents in quandary over vaccinating children

A student receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at a clinic in Seoul, Oct. 18, when health authorities started inoculations of children aged between 16 and 17 and reservations for those between 12 and 15. Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-jiParents are at a loss over whether to have their children get COVID-19 vaccines ahead of the resumption of full-scale in-person classes later this month.While the health authorities are encouraging them to do so, citing an increasing number of infections among children recently, many parents are still hesitant due to concerns of possible side effects. The stance taken by education authorities to leave inoculation up to individuals is also making it challenging for parents to make a decision.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 22.9 percent of confirmed patients from Nov. 1 to 7 were under the age of 20, up from 17.6 percent a month ago, from Oct. 1 to 7. Not only the proportion, but also the number of infections under the age of 20, increased during the period, from 2,566 to 3,504.Infection clusters among students are also tak

Nov 9, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Parents in quandary over vaccinating children
  • Moon vows to complete return to normal life

New COVID-19 infections below 2,000 for 2nd day amid eased curbs

A woman wearing a face mask holds an umbrella in the rain in downtown Seoul, Nov. 8. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 2,000 for the second straight day Tuesday, but health authorities remain on alert over a possible spike in new infections under eased virus curbs. The country reported 1,715 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 383,407, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Last week, South Korea began its "living with COVID-19" scheme as part of a broader plan to gradually lift the virus restrictions by the end of February.Of the total, 1,698 were local infections. Seventeen cases came from overseas, putting the cumulative total at 15,287, the KDCA said. Of the locally transmitted cases, Seoul had 659 cases, with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province logging 524 cases and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, at 110 cases.The death toll rose by 18 to 2,998 on Tuesday. The fatality rate came to 0.78 percent.Health authorities remain on high alert as virus cases could trend back upward again under the "living with COVID-19" scheme

Nov 9, 2021
New COVID-19 infections below 2,000 for 2nd day amid eased curbs
  • Moon vows to complete return to normal life
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