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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.

Concerns rise over Seoul mayor's proposed social distancing scheme

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a COVID-19 response briefing held at Seoul City Hall, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Concern is rising over new Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's plan for the capital to impose its own social distancing measures. Although he said he would consult with the central government, health officials worry that his unilateral steps may weaken the antivirus measures set by the central government.Oh, who took office, April 8, following a by-election, vowed to come up with new COVID-19 measures for the capital area ― focused on minimizing the economic damage to the self-employed ― after criticizing the current central government's ban on the operation of entertainment facilities for taking a toll on small business owners.The health authorities recently decided to extend social distancing Level 2 across Seoul and its surrounding areas until May 2, and banned the operation of entertainment facilities such as clubs and bars with dance floors. Eateries, cafes, karaoke rooms, and gyms are allowed to stay open until 10 p.m., but the authorities warned that the operating hours

Apr 12, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Concerns rise over Seoul mayor's proposed social distancing scheme
  • Korea reaffirms no link between COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths

Korea reaffirms no link between COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths

A medical worker in a booth takes a nasal sample from a man at a coronavirus testing site in Seoul, April 12. APSouth Korea's health authorities on Monday said there is no causal relation between COVID-19 vaccines and 11 reported deaths after vaccinations, assuring the public of the safety of the vaccines.An investigation was concluded on 11 out of 47 people who died within days of receiving COVID-19 vaccines by AstraZeneca and Pfizer Inc, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.An epidemiological survey on 32 out of 47 reported cases has been concluded so far, the KDCA said.The KDCA said all of the 11 people were over 70 years old with pre-existing diseases, and seven of them had been admitted to long-term care facilities.The authorities concluded that their deaths were highly likely to be connected to their pre-existing conditions, including stroke and dementia.The authorities also said they will continue to conduct epidemiological surveys on 15 other reported deaths, adding that the safety of the vaccine has been extensively studied in clinical trials.The KDCA

Apr 12, 2021
Korea reaffirms no link between COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths
  • New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; curbs extended amid spring resurgence
  • Seoul pushes for virus restrictions to protect small businesses
  • Concerns rise over Seoul mayor's proposed social distancing scheme

Seoul pushes for virus restrictions to protect small businesses

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus is briefed at a temporary screening clinic for coronavirus in Seoul, April 10. APNewly elected Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Monday the city will devise its own coronavirus restriction guidelines to minimize negative impacts on small businesses amid the prolonged health crisis."Many neighborhood businesses, which are the backbone of Seoul's economy, have been collapsing. ...The fundamental solution is to allow them to run their businesses," Oh said during an online coronavirus briefing at the city government.The city will work on "shifting the paradigm to 'mutually beneficial' virus restrictions, away from those that force small businesses to be the one who makes all the sacrifices," he said.The move comes in response to growing complaints from small businesses, such as restaurants, gyms, bars and cafes, which have been reeling from strict business restrictions led by the central government.Business owners have claimed they have been disproportionately hurt by what they called the government's inconsiste

Apr 12, 2021
Seoul pushes for virus restrictions to protect small businesses
  • New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; curbs extended amid spring resurgence
  • Korea reaffirms no link between COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths

New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; curbs extended amid spring resurgence

A medical worker wearing protective gear prepares to take a sample at a temporary screening clinic for coronavirus in Seoul, April 10. APSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 600 for the first time in six days Monday partly due to fewer tests over the weekend, amid looming concerns over the fourth wave of the pandemic. The country reported 587 more COVID-19 cases, including 560 local infections, raising the total caseload to 110,146, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Monday's figure was down from 614 the previous day, but it was still high given fewer tests conducted over the weekend. The daily figure hovered over 600 in the past four days as people increased their activities in spring, raising concerns over another wave of the pandemic. The country added two more deaths, raising the total to 1,770.Last week, South Korea decided to maintain the current level of social distancing rules through May 2 to contain the virus, adding more restrictions to entertainment establishments. The greater Seoul area, home to half of the nation's 52 millio

Apr 12, 2021
New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; curbs extended amid spring resurgence
  • Seoul pushes for virus restrictions to protect small businesses
  • Korea reaffirms no link between COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths

Korea to resume AstraZeneca injections except on people under 30

A medical staff at a public health center in Yangcheon District, Seoul, extracts AstraZeneca vaccine from a vial to a syringe, March 18. YonhapJitters linger over safety of AstraZeneca vaccineBy Lee Hyo-jin The government decided Sunday to resume AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations except for people aged under 30, as public concern continues over the safety of the drug. The resumption comes four days after the government suspended inoculations for certain groups of people citing safety issues.Due to concerns over potential blood-clotting side effects, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on people aged under 60, Wednesday, and temporarily called off plans to begin inoculations for school teachers and school nurses that were scheduled to begin Thursday.But the agency announced the resumption of injections based on experts' opinions and a thorough review of the latest report from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which found possible links between the vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots.The KDCA stated that among the th

Apr 11, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea to resume AstraZeneca injections except on people under 30

Korea decides to resume rollout of AstraZeneca vaccine

This file photo taken on March 11 shows a vial of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Paris. AFP-Yonhap Korea on Sunday decided to resume the rollout of administering AstraZeneca vaccines on eligible recipients after temporarily putting the program on hold amid growing concerns over its safety.The use of AstraZeneca's vaccine will resume Monday, except for those aged 30 and below, local authorities said.On Wednesday, the country suspended the use of vaccines by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant and Oxford University for people under age 60, special education instructors and school nurses.The delay came amid growing concerns over the link between the vaccine and unusual blood clot cases from home and abroad.A day later, however, Korea made a tentative decision to resume the inoculation program, citing the European Medicines Agency's statement, which claimed the benefits from the AstraZeneca vaccine still outweigh potential risks over side effects.Korea reporte

Apr 11, 2021
Korea decides to resume rollout of AstraZeneca vaccine

New virus cases on Sunday in 600s for 3rd day amid extended social distancing scheme

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, left, on April 10 checks foods and others provided at a temporary COVID-19 recovery center prepared by the city at Seoul Youth Hostel in Jung District, where those with not severe symptoms of the disease stay. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the third consecutive day Sunday amid looming concerns over the fourth wave of the pandemic, with authorities struggling to contain sporadic cluster infections nationwide.The country reported 614 more COVID-19 cases, including 594 local infections, raising the total caseload to 109,559, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.South Korea reported 677 new cases Saturday, which marked a slight rise from 671 tallied a day earlier. Last week, the daily cases even reached 700, the highest in three months. The country added three more deaths from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,768. Last week, South Korea decided to maintain the current level of social distancing rules through May 2, which was originally set to expire Sunday, while adding more strings to entertainmen

Apr 11, 2021
New virus cases on Sunday in 600s for 3rd day amid extended social distancing scheme

Gov't pushes for wider use of encrypted personal numbers on entry logs to protect privacy

gettyimagesbankThe government has issued revised guidelines on handwritten entry logs required at small businesses such as restaurants for contact tracing purposes, as part of efforts to boost the use of encrypted personal numbers.In February, the government rolled out the encrypted data service to better protect privacy, but it has been slow to take off, in part due to lack of public awareness. The revised guidelines, released earlier this week, strongly recommend that people use their encrypted individual numbers, not their personal phone numbers, for visits to widely used business establishments, public offices and community centers. Businesses are allowed to skip identity checks on patrons to safeguard privacy. The format of manual entry logs has been changed accordingly, demanding an encrypted personal number and allowing a personal phone number only as an alternative. The changed form can be downloaded on the websites of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and provincial governments for wider distribution.The encrypted personal number, consisting of a combination of

Apr 10, 2021
Gov't pushes for wider use of encrypted personal numbers on entry logs to protect privacy

New virus cases in high 600s for 2nd day amid growing concerns of 4th wave

Men wear face masks as a precaution against COVID-19 past in a park in Seoul, April 8. APDaily new COVID-19 cases stayed in the high 600s for a second straight day Friday as the health authorities warned that the country may be facing a fourth wave of infections. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 677 more coronavirus cases, including 662 local infections, raising the total caseload to 108,945. The total is slightly larger than the 671 for Thursday but marked a fall from a three-month high of 700 new cases Wednesday. The average daily caseload has reached 601 over the last seven days on lingering infection clusters alongside untraceable cases.The country also added one more death from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,765.Despite worries over a new wave of the pandemic, the government decided to keep its current level of social distancing rules through May 2, though some measures for small businesses will be tightened.The greater Seoul area, home to half of the nation's 51.7 million population, is under Level 2 distancing measures, the third highest in

Apr 10, 2021
New virus cases in high 600s for 2nd day amid growing concerns of 4th wave

Korea to extend current social distancing measures: PM

Visitors wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus cross a stream in Seoul, April. APSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 700 on Friday, but concerns about another wave of infections linger amid sporadic cluster infections. The country decided to extend the current level of social distancing rules.The country reported 671 more COVID-19 cases, including 644 local infections, raising the total caseload to 108,269, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The tally marked a fall from a three-month high of 700 new cases on Thursday, but it was larger than 668 on Wednesday.The country added six more deaths from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,764.Despite growing concerns over a new wave of the pandemic, South Korea decided to keep the current level of distancing rules for further three weeks, as tighter measures may come at a great price for small businesses and shops.The greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's 51.7 million population, is under the Level 2 social distancing scheme, the third highest in the five-p

Apr 9, 2021
Korea to extend current social distancing measures: PM
  • Signs show Korea has entered 4th wave of infections
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