my timesThe Korea Times
South KoreaHealth

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.

New virus cases spike to 500s amid accelerating vaccination drive

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus sit on swings at a park in Goyang, June 15. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases bounced back to over 500 on Wednesday as health authorities ramp up the country's vaccination drive with a quarter of the population receiving one jab.The country reported 545 more virus cases, including 522 local infections, raising the total caseload to 149,191, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The latest tally is sharply up from 399 on Monday and 374 cases on Tuesday. The country added one more death, raising the death toll to 1,993.The daily caseload has fluctuated between the 300s and the 700s in recent months without signs of letting up due to sporadic cluster infections.Health authorities are set to implement a revamped social distancing scheme next month after extending the current distancing rules until July 4.Currently, the greater Seoul area, Daegu and Jeju Island are under Level 2 distancing, the third highest in the country's five-tier system, while other regions are under

Jun 16, 2021
New virus cases spike to 500s amid accelerating vaccination drive
  • Korea reports 2nd COVID-19 vaccine-induced blood clotting case

Cases of abuse of senior citizens rise amid prolonged pandemic

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to be stuck at home, resulting in increased family conflicts and cases of abuse of senior citizens according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. gettyimagesbankBy Jun Ji-hyeThe number of cases of abuse of senior citizens has increased over the past year apparently due to people being stuck at home and spending more time with family members amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday. Nine in 10 of such cases occurred at home, with sons accounting for the highest percentage of abusers at 34.2 percent.According to the ministry, there were 16,973 reports of alleged abuse of senior citizens in 2020, up 5.6 percent from the previous year. Among these, 6,259 reports were confirmed as actual cases of abuse, however, this was still up 19.4 percent year-on-year.A report issued by the ministry showed that 88 percent of the cases occurred at home, while 8.3 percent took place at nursing homes, followed by 1.5 percent at senior citizen community centers and 0.6 percent at hospitals. Regarding the

Jun 16, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Cases of abuse of senior citizens rise amid prolonged pandemic

Korea set to ease social distancing in phases, adopt pilot-program

Spectators watch a baseball game while keeping distance between each other in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapSouth Korea's health authorities said Tuesday they plan to operate a three-week pilot-run of the new social distancing scheme starting early next month, while working to prevent a sudden surge in daily cases.Authorities earlier hinted they would significantly revamp the social distancing program starting July 5 as the country's inoculation drive is gathering pace. As of 2:30 p.m., 13 million people, or around 25 percent of the population, had received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines.The plan includes lifting the current ban on the gatherings of five or more people, raising the ceiling to eight. Health authorities, however, said they may consider operating a pilot-run of the eased social distancing scheme, and initially allow gatherings of six people in the capital area, and then gradually expand the limit, depending on the virus situation.For the time being, entertainment establishments will also be allowed to operate until 10:00 p.m. in the greater Seoul area. The move apparent

Jun 15, 2021
Korea set to ease social distancing in phases, adopt pilot-program

HIV testing put on backburner amid pandemic

Blood samples in tubes are taken for HIV testing. GettyimagesbankBy Bahk Eun-jiWith public health centers across Seoul focusing their attention on the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing at state-run clinics is taking a backseat to treating coronavirus infections, raising concerns over possible blind spots in the management of HIV infections and transmission. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, there are only six public health centers in the capital that can offer anonymous HIV testing for free.The situation outside Seoul is not much different, with most public health centers there also temporarily suspending HIV testing as COVID-19 has been taking up resources since last year.“The management of HIV and other infectious diseases other than for COVID-19 has become more difficult due to the lack of human resources at public health centers as they are going all out for coronavirus quarantine work,” said an official from the city's infectious disease response department.The problem is that public health centers play a large role

Jun 15, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
HIV testing put on backburner amid pandemic

Concerns growing over COVID-19 vaccination errors

A woman receives a shot of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 at a vaccination center in Gwangju, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin As Korea's vaccination drive against COVID-19 gathers pace, a number of vaccine-related errors have been reported nationwide, prompting concern among people waiting their turn to be inoculated. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 105 vaccine administration errors have been reported out of the 14.79 million that had been given as of Sunday.Of these, 90 cases were vaccinating ineligible recipients ― the most common error ― such as giving the AstraZeneca dose to people under the age of 30. Its use for people under the age 30 has been banned by the government due to possible side effects related to blood clotting. Ten others involved incorrect intervals between administering the two doses, giving the second one earlier than the recommended time. In the remaining cases, five people were given overdoses of the vaccine. These five were reported at a hospital in Buan County in North Jeolla Province, where medical workers inadvertently admini

Jun 15, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Concerns growing over COVID-19 vaccination errors
  • Quarter of Korea's population vaccinated

SPECIAL REPORT Single foreign parents face many citizenship hurdles to stay in Korea

Marhabo Jumaboeva, a citizen of Uzbekistan who lives with her two children after divorcing her Korean husband in 2016, stands behind a curtain in her home in Incheon during an interview with The Korea Times, June 7. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThis article is the third in a four-part series to highlight and address issues surrounding marginalized residents of foreign nationality who are living in legal blind spots in Korean society. ― ED.By Lee Hyo-jin Marhabo Jumaboeva, 38, is a citizen of Uzbekistan who lives with her two children as a single mother in Incheon. She divorced her Korean husband in 2016, ending nine years of marriage. The main reason was that her mother-in-law was overly protective of her son and looked down on Jumaboeva because she was a foreigner. “I don't regret my choice. But the divorce, which was an unexpected event in my life, has brought many difficulties for me and my children,” Jumaboeva said during an interview with The Korea Times.Since her ex-husband refuses to provide child support, even though he was ordered to do so, Jumaboeva is on

Jun 15, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
[SPECIAL REPORT] Single foreign parents face many citizenship hurdles to stay in Korea

Quarter of Korea's population vaccinated

A man takes a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine shot at a clinic in Seoul, June 10. YonhapSouth Korea on Tuesday achieved its vaccination goal of inoculating over 13 million people, or a quarter of the country's 51.3 million population, earlier than scheduled amid its accelerating vaccination drive, boding well for its scheme to create herd immunity by November, the health authorities said.A total of slightly more than 13 million people had received their first shots of COVID-19 vaccines as of 2:30 p.m., accounting for around 25.4 percent of the country's population, since the country started its vaccination program on Feb. 26, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The country earlier announced a goal to vaccinate at least 13 million people by the end of June, and up to 14 million people by the end of this month, and up to 36 million people by September.The nation aims to achieve herd immunity in November but hopes to reach its goal earlier with the increased vaccine rollout.The country's inoculations topped the 1-million mark on April 5 and breached the 10-mill

Jun 15, 2021
Quarter of Korea's population vaccinated
  • New virus cases drop further to 374, the lowest since March 23
  • Concerns growing over COVID-19 vaccination errors

New virus cases drop further to 374, the lowest since March 23

A tightrope walker Nam Chang-dong performs "Jultagi," or tightrope walking, at the Namsan Hanok village in Seoul, June 14. Korea's daily new COVID-19 cases remained under 400 for the second day Tuesday on fewer tests over the weekend as the country's vaccination drive picks up steam with inoculations likely to top 13 million soon. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new COVID-19 cases remained under 400 for the second day Tuesday on fewer tests over the weekend as the country's vaccination drive picks up steam with inoculations likely to top 13 million soon.The country reported 374 more virus cases, including 347 local infections, raising the total caseload to 148,647, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The latest tally is down from 399 cases on Monday and 452 on Sunday and marks the lowest since March 23, when the country reported 346 cases.The country added four more deaths, raising the death toll to 1,992.Health authorities are set to implement a revamped social distancing scheme next month after extending the current distancing rules until July 4.Currently, the

Jun 15, 2021
New virus cases drop further to 374, the lowest since March 23
  • Quarter of Korea's population vaccinated

Exempting vaccinated travelers from self-isolation leads to concerns over virus variants

Quarantine officials guide people at the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport, April 21. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The government will exempt some fully vaccinated travelers to Korea from its mandatory 14-day self-isolation rule beginning next month, but medical experts are expressing concerns that this may lead to an influx of COVID-19 variants from countries where they are becoming predominant. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Sunday that from July, people who have been fully immunized with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), regardless of their nationality, will not be subject to the mandatory self-isolation upon arrival to the country.Currently, the exemption rule only applies to those who have received the vaccine in Korea. The ministry said the relaxation is limited to people who enter Korea for important business, or academic, public interest and humanitarian purposes, as well as those visiting direct family members. Two weeks must have passed from their final shot. Individuals must submit relevant documents such as an application form, va

Jun 14, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Exempting vaccinated travelers from self-isolation leads to concerns over virus variants
  • Virus cases at over 2-month low

Virus cases at over 2-month low

Visitors wearing face masks walk through a gate which sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at a venue for the Seoul Smart Mobility Expo in Seoul, June 10. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new COVID-19 cases rose by the smallest amount in more than two months due to fewer tests over the weekend as the country is preparing for eased virus restrictions starting next month amid an accelerating vaccination drive.The country reported 399 more COVID-19 cases, including 360 local infections, raising the total caseload to 148,273, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Monday's figure was sharply down from 452 cases on Sunday and 565 on Saturday. Daily cases usually rise from Wednesday as more people get tested in the week.The latest caseload marks the first time the figure fell to the 300s since March 29, when the country reported 382 cases.The country added three more deaths, raising the death toll to 1,988.Health authorities are set to overhaul the country's social distancing scheme to be implemented starting next month after extending the current di

Jun 14, 2021
Virus cases at over 2-month low
  • Exempting vaccinated travelers from self-isolation leads to concerns over virus variants
previous page
216217218219220
next page

Most Read in South Korea