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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.

US vaccine provision to Korea getting more feasible

Vials of Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines are seen in this illustration picture, on March 19. Reuters-YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin A recent decision by the U.S. administration to share its COVID-19 vaccines with other countries is expected to accelerate ongoing talks between South Korea and the U.S. on a “vaccine swap,” especially in this week's summit between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden announced Monday that his administration will send ab additional 20 million doses of domestically approved vaccines ― Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson ― overseas by the end of June, in addition to the 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine he had already authorized to share with other countries.“We know America will never be fully safe until the pandemic that's raging globally is under control,” Biden said recently, noting that the U.S. had committed to sharing five times more vaccine than any other country had donated. Although the U.S. president did not disclose which countries they would be, Seoul and Washington are likely to boos

May 18, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
US vaccine provision to Korea getting more feasible
  • Korea remains confident about receiving Moderna, Pfizer vaccines

Korea's COVID-19 variant cases top 1,000, set to further rise

People line up to an early COVID-19 testing center at Yongsan District Office in Seoul, May 13. YonhapSouth Korea has confirmed 247 more cases of major variants of the new coronavirus, raising the total caseload to over 1,000, amid concerns that the country's fight against the pandemic may be stressed by more transmissible strains of the virus.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said of the newly identified variant cases from May 9 to 15, 195 were local infections, while 52 were imported cases, bringing the total variant cases the country has confirmed since October last year to 1,113.Of the newly identified major variant cases, 199 were the Britain-originated strain, followed by 29 Indian variant cases, 18 South African variant cases, and one Brazilian variant case.Health authorities said they also identified 581 other emerging variant cases, including 552 that originated from California.South Korea has stepped up efforts to block the spread of variant cases in the country, strengthening quarantine measures for arrivals from India in light of the spike in infectio

May 18, 2021
Korea's COVID-19 variant cases top 1,000, set to further rise
  • 38 Koreans flown from India test positive for COVID-19
  • New COVID-19 cases rise above 600 as cluster infections continue

38 Koreans flown from India test positive for COVID-19

Korean nationals from India arrive at Incheon International Airport on May 7 via a chartered flight after the Korean government had encouraged them to return from the country suffering from an exceptionally high risk of coronavirus infection. YonhapA total of 38 South Koreans who arrived from India this month on special flights tested positive for the new coronavirus, health authorities said Tuesday.Of 1,039 Koreans brought home from the pandemic-ravaged country, 3.2 percent were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).Of the patients, 15 Koreans were screened at the airport and the reminder tested positive while being placed under quarantine at state-designated facilities, the KDCA said.South Korea has airlifted South Koreans from India six times via special flights since May 4, as the South Asian country has become a virus hotspot in recent months amid the fast spread of the Indian variant.Health authorities said four Koreans arriving from India were confirmed to have been infected with the Indian variant.Re

May 18, 2021
38 Koreans flown from India test positive for COVID-19
  • New cases back under 600, potential upsurge still worrisome
  • Korea's COVID-19 variant cases top 1,000, set to further rise
  • New COVID-19 cases rise above 600 as cluster infections continue

New cases back under 600, potential upsurge still worrisome

A health worker at an early COVID19 testing center near Seoul Station on Tuesday guides visitors to fill out a form before they take the test. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 600 on Tuesday on fewer tests over the weekend, but health authorities remained alert over a potential hike amid continued cluster inflections and spreading variant cases.The country reported 528 more COVID-19 cases, including 506 local infections, raising the total caseload to 132,818, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.There was one additional virus death, raising the total to 1,904. The country has been raising its guard against sporadic cluster infections across the nation amid the rising number of travelers enjoying warm weather.Authorities are keeping a watchful eye on untraceable cases as well. Over the past week, around 30 percent of newly added patients had unknown transmission routes.The reproduction rate also currently hovers around one, indicating that a virus patient may infect at least one person.The country has so far reported 808 cases of varian

May 18, 2021
New cases back under 600, potential upsurge still worrisome
  • 38 Koreans flown from India test positive for COVID-19

USFK offers to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Korea: sources

An U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Gerald Allen, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of fire protection, receives the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Osan Air Base, Dec. 29, 2020. Korea Times file USFK recently delivered its intention of providing around 13,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (JJ) vaccines, and Korean defense and health authorities are discussing how to use the vaccines and other details, according to the sources.In March, USFK began administering JJ's Janssen vaccine to its members in addition to Moderna's, and around 70 percent of the population have been vaccinated so far. "We are discussing with the U.S. side diverse ways of cooperating on the issue," a ministry official said.Korea has been struggling to boost its COVID-19 vaccine supply and has sought help from the United States to address the issue."USFK continues to work closely with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Ministry of National Defense regarding FDA-authorized use of COVID-19 vaccines," USFK spokesperson Col. Lee Peters said in a statement. He did not give furth

May 17, 2021
USFK offers to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Korea: sources

New cases in 600s for 3rd day as cluster infections continue

A visitor wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus walks at a park in Seoul, May 11. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the third consecutive day Monday, as infections from private gatherings, schools and military bases continued amid little progress in vaccinations. The country reported 619 more COVID-19 cases, including 597 local infections, raising the total caseload to 132,290, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.There were three additional virus deaths, raising the total to 1,903. South Korea started its vaccination program on Feb. 26, but its inoculation drive has been making little progress amid the tight supply of vaccines.The country earlier announced its bold plan to vaccinate 13 million people by June and achieve herd immunity by November. South Korea is making efforts to keep the daily figure below 1,000 through end-June while speeding up inoculations of seniors.As of Monday, 940,345 people, or 1.8 percent of the country's population, have been fully vaccinated, receiving both doses of two-p

May 17, 2021
New cases in 600s for 3rd day as cluster infections continue

Prime minister instructs offices to consider incentives to encourage vaccinations

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a COVID-19 countermeasure meeting at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Sunday. YonhapPrime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Sunday called on government offices to consider the provision of various incentives to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated.The prime minister made the request at a coronavirus countermeasures meeting held in Seoul. "A survey of those aged 65 or older who received the (AstraZeneca) vaccine showed 89.5 percent of preventive effect and 100 percent prevention of death," he said during the meeting, adding that most of the side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations were mild fever and muscle pain.He asked the people to trust the government and get vaccinated, without being swayed by unfounded claims about vaccines."This is the way to protect yourselves, your neighbors and the country," he said.He also asked related offices to speed up efforts to sign bilateral agreements with major countries to exempt vaccinated people from two-week quarantine in each country. (Yonhap)

May 16, 2021
Prime minister instructs offices to consider incentives to encourage vaccinations

New cases in 600s for 2nd day amid vaccination campaign

A visitor to an early COVID-19 testing center near Seoul Station on May 15 lets a health worker inside a booth takes a sample, while another health worker looks on. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the second consecutive day on Sunday as the country focuses on its vaccination campaign amid tight vaccine supply.The country reported 610 more COVID-19 cases, including 572 local infections, raising the total caseload to 131,671, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Daily infections fell from 681 on Saturday after posting more than 700 cases on Thursday and Friday as sporadic cluster infections continued nationwide.There were four additional virus deaths, raising the total to 1,900. The fatality rate was 1.44 percent.South Korea started its vaccination program on Feb. 26, but its inoculation drive has been making little progress amid the tight supply of vaccines.The country earlier announced its bold plan to vaccinate 13 million people by June and achieve herd immunity by November. South Korea is currently making efforts to keep

May 16, 2021
New cases in 600s for 2nd day amid vaccination campaign
  • COVID-19 affecting dating, marriage, childbirth rates

Korea aims to fully normalize offline classes later this year: PM

YonhapPrime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Saturday that South Korea will aim to fully normalize in-person classes at local schools later this year amid government efforts to speed up its inoculation program. The administration has been operating a mixture of offline and online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic."Due to the prolonged pandemic, I am concerned about the academic gap among students and their lack of social and emotional connection," Kim wrote in a message on Facebook marking Teachers' Day."If we focused on preventing the spread of the virus through online classes and disinfection efforts last year, we will now spare no effort to have students fully return to school in the new semester," he added.Kim said the government will try its hardest to fully vaccinate all teachers from kindergarten to high school by the end of August.South Korea, which launched its vaccination program in late February, has been focusing on providing shots to medical staff and senior citizens.Amid apparent supply shortages, however, only 7.3 percent of the country's 52 million population has receive

May 15, 2021
Korea aims to fully normalize offline classes later this year: PM

New cases fall below 700; cluster infections, travelers strain virus fight

Students and faculty members of Hyocheon Elementary School in Gwangju's Nam District take a COVID-19 test in the school playground, May 14, after one of the students was tested positive for the disease the previous day. Yonhap Daily new COVID-19 figures fell below 700 for Friday as the authorities expressed concerns about yet another uptick in cases amid a growing number of people traveling nationwide that could lead to more sporadic infection clusters. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 681 more coronavirus cases, including 661 local ones, raising the total caseload to 131,061.The country saw more than 700 daily infections Wednesday and Thursday as sporadic outbreaks lingered across the nation.There were three additional deaths, raising the total to 1,896.The government started its vaccination program Feb. 26, but the inoculation drive has made little progress amid a tight supply of vaccines.The administration earlier announced a bold p

May 15, 2021
New cases fall below 700; cluster infections, travelers strain virus fight
  • COVID-19 affecting dating, marriage, childbirth rates
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