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Foreign residents left behind in COVID-19 information: study

Migrants and Korean activists protest near Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, urging local governments to pay COVID-19 relief funds to foreign residents, in this May 7 photo. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiAlthough the number of COVID-19 infections among foreign residents here has been rising nationwide, a study shows that they have had difficulty accessing virus tests due to a lack of information on testing and quarantine measures as well as difficulty communicating in Korean. The research, conducted at the request of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) by Solidarity with Migrants, a human rights group for migrant workers, revealed foreigners have been more vulnerable to the pandemic than locals.According to the survey of 1,055 foreign residents, 10.7 percent, or 113 said they did not know that they could receive free treatment if infected with COVID-19 regardless of their nationality or status of residence. This showed that although the government has said even unregistered foreigners can get COVID-19 tests and treatment without having their visa status checked, relevant policies have

Mar 16, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Foreign residents left behind in COVID-19 information: study

Greater than 1:1 patient transmission: gov't warns of another mass outbreak

Citizens wait in line to enter Seoulland amusement park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, as the weather warmed up. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiHealth authorities called on the public to be vigilant against COVID-19, as the number of infections is resurging while people are engaging in more outdoor activities amid mild spring weather.They have asked the public to adhere to social distancing measures and personal hygiene, adding the third wave of the pandemic is still ongoing.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Monday, last week's reproduction rate was 1.07, meaning one person spread the virus to 1.07 people on average. This was up from 0.94 recorded a week earlier.The rate is an index that indicates to how many people a single COVID-19 patient will infect on average. If this index is 1 or higher, it means the virus is spreading, and if it is less than 1, it means the spread of the virus is suppressed. Other data has also indicated negative results for the quarantine efforts.The average number of daily local infections was 428.3 last week, 56.6 higher th

Mar 15, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Greater than 1:1 patient transmission: gov't warns of another mass outbreak

COVID-19 testing order on foreigners creates 'chaos' at testing centers

A makeshift COVID-19 testing site in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, is crowded with people waiting to receive a test, Sunday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinGyeonggi Province's mandatory COVID-19 testing order for foreign workers in the region created “chaos” at overcrowded and understaffed testing centers over the weekend, with the number of visitors exceeding testing capacity. Amid sporadic infection clusters at companies employing foreign workers in the area, the local government issued an administrative order, March 8, enforcing all foreign workers in the region to get tested for the coronavirus by March 22.Those who fail to undergo a test during the period could be fined up to 3 million won ($2,600), according to the order, and if an infection occurs among those who have not been tested, the authorities will demand indemnity (payment) for the cost of their treatment and quarantine.But criticism has mounted among the foreign community on the local government's imposition of a “bureaucratic” measure without considering its lack of testing capacity, as around 85,000 foreign

Mar 15, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
COVID-19 testing order on foreigners creates 'chaos' at testing centers

Korea to begin inoculating over-75s next month

In this file photo taken on Jan. 10, 2021, a health worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine against the novel coronavirus at the vaccination center in Pfaffenhofen, southern Germany. AFPSouth Korea will begin administering vaccines to members of the general public aged 75 and over and other virus-vulnerable groups starting next month as part of its inoculation campaign, health authorities said Monday, with a total of 12 million people to get their first COVID-19 vaccine shots during the first half of the year.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the list of second-quarter vaccine recipients by first including non-medical personnel and those who are not at long-term care facilities. Some 3.64 million people aged 75 and older will get vaccinated the first week of April, they said.The KDCA said the inoculation priority group for the seniors will receive COVID-19 vaccines developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. that are scheduled to arrive in the country later this month.Vaccines provided by Pfizer will be given at state-r

Mar 15, 2021
Korea to begin inoculating over-75s next month

New infection cases at 1-week low on fewer tests

In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, file photo, young people wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus ride bicycles at a park in Seoul. APSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to below 400 for the first time in a week on Monday as the number of people taking virus tests decreased over the weekend, but health authorities warned that the virus curve is set to follow an upward cycle amid warm weather and an increase in nontraceable cases.The country reported 382 more COVID-19 cases, including 370 local infections, raising the total caseload to 96,107, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The figure was sharply down from 459 on Sunday. The daily new cases stood above 400 over the past week due to sporadic cluster infections and an increase in people traveling amid warmer weather.Amid no clear signs of letup, the country extended current social distancing measures for another two weeks until March 28. Since mid-Feb., the greater Seoul area has been under Level 2, the third highest in a five-tier system, with other areas under

Mar 15, 2021
New infection cases at 1-week low on fewer tests

Administering of COVID-19 vaccines to general public to begin next month

A temporary COVID-19 testing center in front of Suwon Station in Gyeonggi Province is crowded, Sunday, following the recent administrative order from Gyeonggi Provincial Government for all foreign workers in the area to take a COVID-19 test. YonhapConcerns over resurgence of infections rise amid over 400 new cases for 6th dayBy Jun Ji-hyeKorea will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines to the general public next month, with residents aged 65 and older given priority, based on the belief that prompt vaccination is the key to returning to normal daily life.Health authorities will announce detailed plans of the expanded vaccination program for the second quarter, Monday.The country began its inoculation program last month ― AstraZeneca's vaccines began to be administered to workers and patients under the age of 65 at geriatric hospitals and nursing homes, Feb. 26. Then, Pfizer's vaccines began to be administered the following day to medical and other workers at hospitals designated to treat virus patients.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Sunday, a tot

Mar 14, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Administering of COVID-19 vaccines to general public to begin next month

New virus cases on Sunday over 400 for 6th day

One of “oreums,” or hills, in Jeju Island's Aewol District is on fire during the island's traditional fire festival on Mar. 13, with flames prepared to shape in letters that read “COVID-19 OUT” to wish the global pandemic's end. Visitors to the oreum watch the festival in their cars. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed above 400 for the sixth consecutive day Sunday as health authorities struggled to bring down infections amid a nationwide vaccination campaign.The country reported 459 more COVID-19 cases, including 436X local infections, raising the total caseload to 95,635, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.The country added two more deaths from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,669.The daily caseload has stayed in the 400s with 465 cases Thursday, 488 Friday and 490 Saturday, the highest since Feb. 19, stoking concerns about a virus resurgence. The daily tally had been on the downward trend since peaking late last year on the back of strong virus curbs, including a ban on private gatherings of five or more people

Mar 14, 2021
New virus cases on Sunday over 400 for 6th day

New virus cases near 500, reaching 3-week high

A soldier takes a virus test at an early COVID-19 testing center near Seoul Station in Jung District on Mar. 12. YonhapNew daily COVID-19 infections here reached their highest in 22 days, Friday, stubbornly remaining above 400 for the fifth consecutive day. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 490 more coronavirus cases, including 474 local ones, raising the total caseload to 95,176.In addition there were five more deaths, increasing the total to 1,667.The daily number of new infections has stayed in the 400s since earlier in the week, with 470 cases for Tuesday, 465 for Wednesday and 488, Thursday, stoking concerns about a resurgence. The latest figure is the highest since Feb. 19, when 561 cases were confirmed.The tally had been steadily declining since it reached a peak on Dec. 25 with 1,241 cases, on the back of strong anti-virus restrictions, including a ban on private gatherings of five or more people.But the country has recently struggled to flatten the virus curve, with the daily figure stuck in the 300s to 400s over the past few weeks amid a spate

Mar 13, 2021
New virus cases near 500, reaching 3-week high

Korea to extend current social distancing measures for 2 weeks: PM

People wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus watch their smartphones as they walk down the stairs in Seoul, Monday, March 8, 2021. APSouth Korea will extend its current social distancing measures for another two weeks, the prime minister said Friday, as sporadic COVID-19 cluster infections continue to pop up across the country."The government will extend the current distancing levels, which end March 14, for another two weeks," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a regular COVID-19 response meeting in Seoul. The greater Seoul area, home to around half of the nation's 52-million population, will remain under Level 2 distancing and the rest of the country will be subject to Level 1.5 distancing for an additional two weeks starting next week. Bans on gatherings of five or more people and restrictions on small businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, will also remain in place for another two weeks, Chung said."As the number of new daily patients has remained in the 300 to 400 range for the eighth consecutive week, (the fight against the pandemic) remains stub

Mar 12, 2021
Korea to extend current social distancing measures for 2 weeks: PM
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