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Korea needs better support for multiracial children in rural areas

Students with multicultural backgrounds attend a foreign language and culture class at an elementary school in Seoul in this file photo. Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin Tailored support measures are needed for children from multiracial backgrounds living in rural areas, as they showed a lower level of psychosocial adaptation compared to those in large cities, according to a study by the National Youth Policy Institute released Monday. Such findings were included in the results of an 11-year-long longitudinal study conducted on school life, family environment, social adaptation and bicultural identity of multiracial children nationwide.According to the findings, compared with those living in the metropolitan area, multiracial teenagers living in small towns showed lower levels of self-esteem and social competence ― they exhibited relatively lower capabilities in terms of feeling positive about themselves and interacting with others. They also had lower assessments for physical and mental health and had less interaction with their parents, having fewer daily conversations on topics such

Apr 19, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea needs better support for multiracial children in rural areas

New virus cases on Monday back under 600 on fewer tests

People queue up at an early COVID-19 testing center inside a medical service center in Seoul's Songpa District, April 18. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 600 for the first time in six days Monday mainly due to fewer tests over the weekend amid growing concerns over the fourth wave of the pandemic.The country reported 532 more COVID-19 cases, including 512 local infections, raising the total caseload to 114,646, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Monday's figure was sharply down from 672 the previous day.The daily figure hovered above 600 in the past week as people have increased their activities in spring, which could spark another wave of the pandemic.The country added four more deaths, raising the death toll to 1,801. The fatality rate was 1.57 percent. Last week, South Korea decided to maintain the current level of social distancing rules through May 2 to contain the virus, while placing more restrictions on entertainment establishments, such as nightclubs and bars. The greater Seoul area, home to half of the nation's 52 mil

Apr 19, 2021
New virus cases on Monday back under 600 on fewer tests

Korean firms making slow progress in developing COVID-19 treatments

gettyimagesbankBy Jun Ji-hyeKorean pharmaceutical companies have been making slow progress in developing treatments for COVID-19 due mainly to difficulties in recruiting patients for their clinical trials.According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Sunday, clinical trials of a total of 13 potential COVID-19 treatments from domestic drug companies are currently underway following the ministry's approval. Among them, however, companies such as CrystalGenomics, Dongwha Pharm, Immunemed and Green Cross Wellbeing have yet to administer their drugs to actual patients. The drug safety ministry approved CrystalGenomics to perform Phase II clinical trials of its potential COVID-19 treatment in July last year. The company was planning to perform the trials on a group of 100 patients to assess how well the drug worked, but has yet to recruit test subjects Dongwha Pharm was also approved to perform Phase II clinical trials in November, but has yet to begin procedures to recruit patients. “Since we selected a contract research organization in January, we have been working to secure m

Apr 18, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Korean firms making slow progress in developing COVID-19 treatments

Korea to start vaccinations of care workers, airline crews

A test tube labelled "vaccine" in front of an AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken, Sept. 9, 2020. ReutersSouth Korea will start giving AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers and airline crews this week to speed up the vaccination drive against the pandemic, the health authority said Sunday.Health authorities will administer AstraZeneca vaccines to health care workers for the disabled, seniors and veterans as well as airline crews starting from Monday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Those under age 30 will be excluded from the list on concerns over rare blood clots.Doctors, nurses and pharmacists as well as patients undergoing hemodialysis will be eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine beginning April 26, the KDCA said.The authority suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine from April 8-11 on reports of rare blood clots but resumed vaccinations on April 12.A total of 175 vaccination centers, which are capable of 105,000 vaccinations a day, are administering inoculations with AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to those age 75 and over, as w

Apr 18, 2021
Korea to start vaccinations of care workers, airline crews

New virus cases in 600s for 4th day as sporadic infections continue

A health official wearing protective suits waits visitors at a temporary screening clinic for coronavirus in Seoul, April 10. APSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the fourth consecutive day Sunday as sporadic infections continue to pop up across the nation, complicating antivirus efforts against the fourth wave of the pandemic.The country reported 672 more COVID-19 cases, including 649 local infections, raising the total caseload to 114,115, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.It added three more deaths, raising the total to 1,797.The average daily number of locally transmitted cases was 621 over the past week, and the proportion of untraceable virus cases stood at 27.7 percent during the period, the KDCA said.The reproduction rate for stood at 1.14, it said, which means a single COVID-19 patient transmits the disease to more than one person.As of 6 p.m., health authorities and local governments reported 409 new virus cases, down 132 from the same time on Saturday. The decrease appears to have been largely caused by fewer tests co

Apr 18, 2021
New virus cases in 600s for 4th day as sporadic infections continue

New virus cases in 600s for 3rd day amid rising concerns over new virus wave

South Korea's daily new COVID-19 infections stayed in the 600s for a third consecutive day Friday as the health authorities continue to ramp up their vigilance amid growing concerns over a looming fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new COVID-19 infections stayed in the 600s for a third consecutive day Friday as the health authorities continue to ramp up their vigilance amid growing concerns over a looming fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 658 more cases, including 630 local infections, raising the total caseload to 113,444. It added that there had been four more deaths, raising the total to 1,794.The daily caseload was down from 673 reported for Thursday, 698 for Wednesday and 731 for Tuesday, which marked the highest number since Jan. 7.The health authorities warned against a potential hike in group infections in public places, including sports facilities, churches, karaoke rooms, restaurants, workplaces and schools, as people increased outdoor activities with the start of spring an

Apr 17, 2021
New virus cases in 600s for 3rd day amid rising concerns over new virus wave

Local governments propose their own COVID-19 measures

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks at a provincial assembly meeting at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly building, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinLocal governments have begun proposing their own COVID-19 measures without sufficient consultation with central government, raising concerns that any moves deviating from nationwide quarantine policies may lead to widespread confusion or weaken the antivirus measures set by the health authorities.Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung announced Thursday that his provincial government was reviewing the possibility of launching a separate vaccination rollout for residents of the province, using vaccines that have not been introduced into the country so far. “Special measures are needed amid deepening concerns of a fourth wave of infections. We are reviewing whether Gyeonggi Province will be able to offer vaccines to our residents separately,” Lee said at an assembly meeting when asked about additional measures that the local government is planning in order to reach herd immunity in the province.An official of the prov

Apr 16, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Local governments propose their own COVID-19 measures

Defense chief, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman receive AstraZeneca vaccine shots

Defense Minister Suh Wook receives an AstraZeneca vaccine jab at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Friday. Courtesy of the Ministry of National DefenseDefense Minister Suh Wook and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul received their first doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine Friday, the defense ministry said.Suh and Won were given the vaccine shots at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, south of Seoul, in consideration of their planned overseas trips, according to the ministry.Won plans to visit Hawaii later this month for trilateral talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts ― Gen. Mark Milley and Gen. Koji Yamazaki ― on the occasion of the upcoming change-of-command ceremony of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.Suh is also scheduled to visit Singapore in early June to take part in the annual security forum of the Shangri-La Dialogue set to take place on June 4-5.Following the inoculation, Suh inspected facilities for COVID-19 patients at the hospital and asked the medical staff there to continue efforts for the treatment, vaccination prog

Apr 16, 2021
Defense chief, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman receive AstraZeneca vaccine shots

New virus cases on Friday in 600s for 2nd day, virus battle at inflection point

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Lee Gae-ho's office in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, is closed on Friday after the lawmaker has been tested positive to COVID-19. Lee was infected by one of his staff members. He is the first Korean lawmaker to have been tested positive to the disease. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the second straight day Friday as the country's virus fight is at a critical juncture of bracing for another wave of the pandemic.The country reported 673 more COVID-19 cases, including 652 local infections, raising the total caseload to 112,789, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Friday's daily caseload was down from 698 on Thursday and 731 on Wednesday, which marked the highest since Jan. 7.The country added two more deaths, raising the total to 1,790.Health authorities cautioned against a hike in group infections in various settings, including sports facilities, churches, karaoke businesses, restaurants, workplaces and schools, as people have increased their activities in the spring.Concerns hav

Apr 16, 2021
New virus cases on Friday in 600s for 2nd day, virus battle at inflection point

COVID-19 infections likely to spike further; gov't set to raise social distancing level

Elderly residents aged 75 and older wait at a COVID-19 vaccination center in Gwangju, Thursday, to see if they show abnormal reactions after receiving the Pfizer vaccine shot. YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeNew daily COVID-19 cases have stayed at around 700 for two days in a row here, while medical experts warn that the daily figure could exceed 1,000 in the coming weeks.Experts noted that it will be difficult for the nation to stave off a stronger wave of infections as it suffers from a series of unfavorable factors, including an unstable supply of vaccines and the continued spread of COVID-19 variants that are more transmissible than the original strain. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 698 more COVID-19 cases were reported, Wednesday, including 670 local infections, raising the cumulative number of cases to 112,117.On Tuesday, 731 cases were identified, which was the highest since early January.Diverse indicators are showing that the COVID-19 situation is likely to become more critical.The daily average cases per week have continued to the increase from 438

Apr 15, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
COVID-19 infections likely to spike further; gov't set to raise social distancing level
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