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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.

Fear grows over new variant stronger than Delta

Arrivals from overseas undergo quarantine procedures at Incheon International Airport, Sunday, amid concerns over the inflow of the Omicron variant into the nation. Korea Times photo by Hong In-kiGov't bans entry from 8 African nationsBy Bahk Eun-jiConcerns are growing over the possible spread of a new COVID-19 variant here, following rapid overseas transmission of the Omicron mutation which is believed to be stronger than the currently dominant Delta strain.Although its potential threat is yet to be known compared with other strains, experts are urging the government to take as strong measures as possible to prevent the inflow of the new variant, designated as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, given that the country's antivirus response is already facing challenges amid a surge of infections in recent weeks.As the first step of its preventive measures, the government started to ban entry to Korea of foreign nationals from eight African countries from Sunday. Those nations are South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique

Nov 28, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Fear grows over new variant stronger than Delta

Coronavirus: Daily critical cases and deaths hit record highs

A visitor wearing a face mask walks over signs displayed on the floor for the social distancing measures outside an exhibition hall in Goyang, Nov. 25. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases dropped below 4,000 on Sunday, but the number of deaths and critically ill patients hit fresh highs, spawning concerns about the further spread of COVID-19 under eased virus restrictions meant for a gradual return to normal life.The country reported 3,928 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,893 local infections, raising the total caseload to 440,896, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The tally was down from 4,068 on Saturday but higher than 3,901 on Friday. The country reported the highest daily infections of 4,115 on Wednesday.The decline was largely attributable to less testing over the weekend.South Korea's quarantine efforts stand at a critical juncture as it has seen a surge in COVID-19 related deaths and critically ill patients since it began easing virus restrictions on Nov. 1 under its three-phase "living with COVID-19" scheme.The country added a daily

Nov 28, 2021
Coronavirus: Daily critical cases and deaths hit record highs

Daily COVID-19 cases bounce back above 4,000; deaths hit record high

People queue in line to wait for a coronavirus test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Nov. 24. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's new daily COVID-19 cases rose above 4,000 with the numbers of deaths and critically ill patients hitting fresh record highs Friday, deepening worries about the further spread of the coronavirus under a phased plan for a gradual return to normal life.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 4,068 new infections, including 4,045 local ones, raising the total caseload to 436,968.The number was up 167 from 3,901 for Thursday but down from 4,115, Wednesday, which was the highest since the first case was reported here in January 2020.Critically ill patients hit an all-time high of 634, up 17 from the previous day.The country added 52 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 3,492 for a fatality rate of 0.8 percent.Concerns about an upsurge in new cases have been growing since the government began easing virus restrictions early this month under its three-phase "living with COVID-19" plan.The administration planned to move to the secon

Nov 27, 2021
Daily COVID-19 cases bounce back above 4,000; deaths hit record high

ICU beds reaching limit amid rapid increase in critical cases

A health worker administers a COVID-19 test at a temporary testing center set up at Seoul Station, Friday. YonhapCritically ill patients hit all-time high of 617By Jun Ji-hyeThe country is facing a serious shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients, as the number of critical cases has increased rapidly, exceeding the government's expectations, after the “Living with COVID-19” scheme was implemented at the start of this month to gradually phase out several coronavirus-related restrictions. The number of critical cases has been increasing amid a highly elevated number of overall infections, including breakthrough cases involving those who tested positive even after having been fully vaccinated, especially among the elderly.This is raising concerns over the possible collapse of the country's medical response system to the pandemic, with experts calling on the government to suspend the “Living with COVID-19" scheme and reinstate measures to reduce the rising number of new infections. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDC

Nov 26, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
ICU beds reaching limit amid rapid increase in critical cases
  • Korea confirms 20 COVID-19 'reinfection' cases

Korea confirms 20 COVID-19 'reinfection' cases

A woman gets tested for COVID-19 at a testing center in Seoul Station, Nov. 26. YonhapSouth Korea has confirmed a total of 20 cases of coronavirus "reinfection," health authorities here said Friday.A total of 20 people have been categorized as reinfection cases, out of 138 suspected cases, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The KDCA defines a reinfection as when a person tests positive for COVID-19 more than three months after a full recovery.The tally includes individuals who had a confirmed COVID-19 illness after their initial infection, the KDCA said.The tally also includes an unconfirmed number of cases in which the COVID-19 virus was simply detected again, indicating further study is needed.The authorities have earlier said reinfection of the COVID-19 virus is very rare, and it is rarer it develops into a severe case. (Yonhap)

Nov 26, 2021
Korea confirms 20 COVID-19 'reinfection' cases
  • ICU beds reaching limit amid rapid increase in critical cases

Mixed messages on children's vaccines confuse parents

A student receives a coronavirus vaccine at a clinic in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Oct. 18. Joint Press CorpsVaccine pass system may be expanded to childrenBy Lee Hyo-jin Mixed messages being sent by the government and medical experts on COVID-19 vaccination for children are creating confusion among parents, who are weighing the risks and benefits of inoculation following the full resumption of in-person classes at schools.Authorities are “strongly recommending” parents to vaccinate their children, following a recent surge in infections among people aged under 18, but some health experts are calling for a prudent approach considering potential side effects. The infection rate of minors outstripped that of adults for the first time in October, according to a study conducted by Choi Eun-hwa, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Seoul National University.During the four weeks from Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, 99.7 out of every 100,000 children aged under 18 were infected, compared to 76 out of 100,000 people aged 19 or older.Citing such data, the education ministry encourage

Nov 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Mixed messages on children's vaccines confuse parents
  • Daily cases stay below 4,000, critical cases hit record high

Daily cases stay below 4,000, critical cases hit record high

People wait in line to get tested for the coronavirus at a testing center in Songpa District, Seoul, Nov. 25. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 4,000 for the second straight day Friday, but critical cases rose to a record high amid worries the virus could quickly spread under eased social distancing rules.The country reported 3,901 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,882 local infections, raising the total caseload to 432,901, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The number was down from 3,938 on Thursday. It was also down from 4,115 reported Wednesday, which was the highest since the first case was reported in South Korea in January 2020.Critically ill patients hit an all-time high of 617, up five from the previous high on Thursday. The country added 39 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 3,440. Concerns have been growing of an upsurge in infections since the government began easing virus restrictions early this month for a gradual return to pre-pandemic life under the three-phase "living with COVID-19" scheme.South

Nov 26, 2021
Daily cases stay below 4,000, critical cases hit record high
  • Mixed messages on children's vaccines confuse parents

Nurses and other medical workers clash over Nursing Act

Members of the Korea Nurses Association stage a rally in front of the National Assembly, calling for the legislation of the Nursing Act, Nov. 23. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanBy Lee Hyo-jin Controversy is deepening among different groups of medical staff over legislation of the Nursing Act, a law that stipulates the role and duties of licensed nurses. The Korean Nurses Association (KNA), a group representing 460,000 nurses nationwide, has been calling for the legislation, insisting that the enactment will lay the groundwork for the improvement of nurse-related policies, which will improve their working conditions and resolve a chronic manpower shortage in the field.However, other medical workers, such as doctors, care workers at nursing homes, assistant nurses and paramedics fiercely oppose the legislation, as they believe that the law will only benefit nurses and create confusion in the public healthcare system. The Nursing Act, proposed by Rep. Kim Min-seok of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, along with two other similar bills, proposed by Rep. Seo Jeong-suk and Rep. Choi Y

Nov 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Nurses and other medical workers clash over Nursing Act

Concerns growing over increasing overseas travel amid soaring infections

A check-in area of Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 is crowded with tourists, Nov. 5. YonhapForeign ministry, experts call for canceling non-essential trips abroadBy Jun Ji-hyeAn increasing number of people here have been planning overseas trips, after the government implemented its “Living with COVID-19” scheme at the start of this month and more destinations around the world have eased mandatory quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travelers. This has been raising expectations for a rebound in the tourism and aviation industries that have been hit hard by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time raising concerns over the further resurgence of virus infections, including breakthrough cases involving people who tested positive even after having been fully vaccinated.Korea has signed travel bubble agreements with Saipan and Singapore, aiming to exempt or ease rules on mandatory quarantine for travelers to and from both destinations who have been fully vaccinated.An increasing number of other destinations including Guam, Hawaii and Maldives have also

Nov 25, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Concerns growing over increasing overseas travel amid soaring infections

Concerns over COVID infection growing among pregnant women

Citizens wait in line to get tested for COVID-19 at a temporary test site in front of Seoul City Hall, Thursday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiConcerns are growing among pregnant woman nationwide over whether to receive COVID-19 vaccine or not following the death of a fetus which is presumed to be due to possible infection from the coronavirus transmitted by the mother. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the mother, who had not been vaccinated, tested positive Nov. 18, and delivered a stillborn baby four days later, which also tested positive for the virus.“It is unclear whether it was through vertical transmission or contamination by body fluids,” said Park Young-joon, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters. “It is not easy to figure out how much influence coronavirus had in the stillbirth. Relevant data and experts' opinion are required (to decide on the influence), but it is a very rare case and we wonder there are sufficient data to make a conclusion.” The news has made many pregna

Nov 25, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Concerns over COVID infection growing among pregnant women
  • Korea confirms 1st fetal COVID-19 death
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