my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Health

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

Strict mask rules could be readopted with rise in variant cases: PM

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a meeting on the government's response to COVID-19 at the government complex in Seoul, June 29. YonhapMandatory outdoor mask rules for those who have received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines could be reintroduced if the country sees a rise in new coronavirus variant cases, the prime minister said Tuesday.Starting Thursday, South Korea plans to allow people administered with their first vaccine doses to travel outdoors without masks, as part of the government's new COVID-19 guidelines emphasizing incentives for vaccinated people.Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, however, stated that the government "cannot but make mask wearing rules mandatory again" in the case new COVID-19 variant cases rise, amid concerns over a steady rise in cases of the highly contagious Delta variant.During the period from June 20-26, the number of confirmed cases of strains from Britain, South Africa, Brazil and India came to 267, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases of variants to 2,492, health authorities said."The risk in rise of contamination could on

Jun 29, 2021
Strict mask rules could be readopted with rise in variant cases: PM
  • New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day
  • 21 countries to lose quarantine exemptions

New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day

A medical worker in a booth takes a nasal sample from a man at a coronavirus testing site in Seoul, June 28. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new virus cases remained in the 500s for the second day in a row Tuesday on fewer tests, but the loosened vigilance against the pandemic may trigger a further rise in new infections amid a steady increase in cases of COVID-19 variants.The country reported 595 more COVID-19 cases, including 560 local infections, raising the total caseload to 156,167, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest figure was up 94 from the previous day.The country added two more deaths, raising the death toll to 2,017. The fatality rate was 1.29 percent.The daily caseload may rise down the road amid increased activities and loose antivirus measures.A set of revamped distancing rules will be implemented next month as the country's vaccination program gathers pace.Under the loosened rules, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to open till midnight from the current 10 p.m., and bars and other nightlife facilities will also resume their operatio

Jun 29, 2021
New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day
  • Strict mask rules could be readopted with rise in variant cases: PM
  • 21 countries to lose quarantine exemptions

132 infections traced to Hongdae gathering of foreign language instructors

People fill a street near Hongik University in western Seoul in this Nov. 13, 2020 photo. Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-jiThe number of COVID-19 cases linked to a gathering of language instructors working at private academies in Gyeonggi Province has increased to 132, according to health authorities and provincial government, Monday. The authorities said that six foreign language instructors who work at institutes in Seongnam, Bucheon, Goyang and Uijeongbu in the province were infected with the virus after attending a gathering at a bar near Hongik University in western Seoul on June 19. The infected instructors then transmitted the virus to students and colleagues at the academies and their family members, with the cumulative number of confirmed cases growing to 132 ― 54 in Seongnam, 28 in Goyang, 19 in Bucheon and 23 in Uijeongbu.The authorities are examining if those who tested positive are infected with a variant, considering the fast speed of transmission that surpassed 130 cases in six days since the first case was confirmed on June 22.Also under investigation is whether the six

Jun 29, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
132 infections traced to Hongdae gathering of foreign language instructors

'Breakthrough' infections in Korea hit 44

gettyimagesbankSouth Korea has confirmed 44 cases of the so-called vaccine "breakthrough" COVID-19 infections, health authorities said Monday, as the country speeds up its inoculation campaign.As of last Thursday, a total of 44 people had tested positive for the novel coronavirus even after being fully vaccinated, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).A "breakthrough case" refers to when a person is diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks after being administered with the full-dose regimen.Among the 44 cases, 26 patients had received the Pfizer vaccine, while 18 were administered with the AstraZeneca vaccine.The KDCA said it also detected a breakthrough case from a patient who had received the Janssen vaccine.Kim Sung-kyu, the leader of K-pop boy band INFINITE, was diagnosed with COVID-19 on June 25 after he received the single-dose Janssen vaccine on June 10.Health authorities said the case will be included in later data as the patient was diagnosed after June 24.As of Monday, around 15 million people, or 30 percent of the country's 51.3 million population, r

Jun 28, 2021
'Breakthrough' infections in Korea hit 44
  • New virus cases back under 500s ahead of implementation of eased distancing rules

New virus cases back under 500s ahead of implementation of eased distancing rules

A man sprays disinfectant as people take COVID-19 tests as a precaution, prior to entering a music festival venue in Seoul, June 26. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new virus cases fell back to the 500s on Monday for the first time in five days on fewer tests over the weekend. But health authorities have been keeping tabs on the trend of new virus infections amid concerns over a steady rise in cases of the highly contagious Delta variant and others ahead of the implementation of eased social distancing measures later this week, The country reported 501 more COVID-19 cases, including 472 local infections, raising the total caseload to 155,572, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest figure was down 113 from the previous day. The country added two more deaths, raising the death toll to 2,015. The fatality rate was 1.3 percent.Daily caseloads soared to the 600s from the high 300s on Wednesday due to sporadic cluster infections across the country.Along with the rise in the number of new virus infections, untraceable cases took up 25.3 percent of the total dur

Jun 28, 2021
New virus cases back under 500s ahead of implementation of eased distancing rules
  • 'Breakthrough' infections in Korea hit 44

On working from home, no 'hoesik,' young workers prefer COVID-era work culture

By Nam Hyun-woogettyimagesbankWith the acceleration of Korea's COVID-19 vaccination drive raising hopes for a return to “normal” life, there are some things that young Koreans don't want to see come back, particularly related to work culture. One of these aspects is required after-work dinners, or “hoesik” in Korean, which often involve binge-drinking. According to a recent poll by JobKorea, 87 percent of the total 1,424 employed respondents said they believe they will be able to return to normal life once herd immunity is achieved in the country. However, when asked what changes they want to see remain after the pandemic, their answers differed by generation. Among the respondents, 44.9 percent of those in their 20s and 30s said that they want both their companies and colleagues to refrain from holding after-work get-togethers even after the pandemic. When multiple answers were allowed, 44.1 percent of this age group also said they want to continue refraining from after-work binge-drinking, 32.7 percent wanted a work culture that continues to allow sick peopl

Jun 28, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
On working from home, no 'hoesik,' young workers prefer COVID-era work culture

Capital area to be under Level 2 with eased measures

Visitors wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus, walk at a park in Seoul, June 26. AP-YonhapHealth authorities on Sunday announced that the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country's population, will be under Level 2 with eased virus curbs in the new four-tier social distancing system to be enforced next month. Seoul, Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital, and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, will be placed under Level 2, the second-lowest in the four-tier system, from Thursday, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. Virus cases from the greater Seoul area accounted for nearly 75 percent of the domestic infections reported in the past week. Regions outside the greater Seoul area will be under Level 1 in the revamped distancing scheme, though detailed guidelines will differ by provinces. All regions, except South Chungcheong Province, will have a two-week pilot-run of the new distancing scheme before they fully adopt the upgraded guidelines in phases. The capital area is currently under Level 2 distancing in the

Jun 27, 2021
Capital area to be under Level 2 with eased measures
  • New virus cases stay in 600s for 5th day

New virus cases stay in 600s for 5th day

People use a rapid self-test kit for COVID-19 detection as a part of precaution against the coronavirus disease before entering a music festival venue in Seoul, June 26. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new virus cases stayed in the 600s for the fifth straight day Sunday as health authorities brace for revamped social distancing rules while pushing to accelerate vaccinations. The country reported 614 more COVID-19 cases, including 570 local infections, raising the total caseload to 155,071, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The latest figure was down 54 from the previous day but still worrisome as daily virus cases on Sundays had been below 600 in June. Daily caseloads here have been going through some ups and downs between the 300s and 700s in recent months with no significant signs of a letup due to sporadic cluster infections nationwide.The country added one more death, raising the death toll to 2,013. The fatality rate was 1.3 percent.South Korea will implement a new social distancing scheme Thursday, aimed at allowing businesses to extend operating hours an

Jun 27, 2021
New virus cases stay in 600s for 5th day
  • Over 40 civic groups call for equitable vaccine access for foreign nationals
  • Capital area to be under Level 2 with eased measures

New cases surpass 600 for 4th day as S. Korea braces for eased distancing

A healthcare worker cools off at a COVID-19 testing center in Seoul Station plaza, June 25. YonhapDaily new COVID-19 cases here remained over 600 for the third straight day Friday, due to outbreaks of infection clusters nationwide, as the authorities prepared to announce a new set of eased social distancing rules.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 668 new infections, including 611 local ones, raising the accumulated caseload to 154,457. Three more coronavirus deaths were also announced, raising the death toll to 2,012, at a fatality rate of 1.3 percent.The country's daily infection tally had stayed below 600 since June 11, but the number rebounded and has stayed over this since Tuesday as new infection clusters involving schools, churches and entertainment facilities arose across the country. New cases of infected people arriving in the country also continued. The health authorities are on edge in particular over the steady growth in numbers of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus as the government is set to relax its social distancing m

Jun 26, 2021
New cases surpass 600 for 4th day as S. Korea braces for eased distancing
  • 13 USFK-affiliated individuals test positive for COVID-19
  • Over 95% of troops aged under 30 receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Over 40 civic groups call for equitable vaccine access for foreign nationals

People wait in long lines for COVID-19 tests at a separate temporary testing facility for foreign nationals in front of the Geumcheon District Office in Seoul, March 21. Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin A coalition of over 40 civic organizations around the issue of human rights for migrants is calling on the government to ensure that all residents of foreign nationality have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, pointing out that they are equal members of society and should not be excluded from the vaccine rollout. The government announced earlier that individuals of foreign nationality who have lived in Korea for over three months, including undocumented residents, will be vaccinated just like Korean nationals.However, some residents of foreign nationality are being left out of the vaccination drive, according to a statement released by the coalition on Thursday.“An undocumented resident over the age of 60 was told that he was eligible for a vaccine by the call center, but w

Jun 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Over 40 civic groups call for equitable vaccine access for foreign nationals
  • New virus cases stay in 600s for 5th day
previous page
207208209210211
next page

Most Read in South Korea