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Gov't to ease social distancing, retains ban on gatherings of 5 or more

Visitors wearing face masks walk near a public sports facilities area in Seoul which is taped off for social distancing measures imposed as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, Feb. 9. APThe government decided Saturday to lower social distancing levels by one notch each for the greater Seoul area and the other regions next week, but kept tight vigilance to curb COVID-19 by retaining a ban on gatherings of five people or more.Health authorities said that starting Monday, they plan to lower social distancing guidelines to Level 2 -- the third highest in a five-tier system -- for the greater Seoul area and Level 1.5 for other regions until Feb. 28.They will also ease restrictions on restaurants, cafes, gyms and other public facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area to allow them to operate for one more hour until 10 p.m., amid complaints by pandemic-hit small business operators.Entertainment facilities across the nation will also be allowed to operate until 10 p.m. on condition that they abide by key antivirus rules, such as wearing masks and keeping distance among their clients

Feb 13, 2021
Gov't to ease social distancing, retains ban on gatherings of 5 or more

New virus cases dip below 400

A social distancing sign is seen as passengers wait to board planes on the eve of the Lunar New Year holiday at the domestic flight terminal of Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, Feb. 11. APDaily new COVID-19 cases here fell below 400 for Friday, although this was apparently due to fewer tests during the Lunar New Year holiday. At the same time, the government announced it would ease social distancing restrictions from Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 362 more coronavirus infections, including 345 local cases, raising the total caseload to 83,199. It also said there had been seven more fatalities, bringing the cumulative death toll to 1,514.The infection total ― tallied Saturday ― was down from 403 cases for Thursday and 504, Wednesday when the number of new cases surged to a 15-day high despite tough virus curbs, such as a nationwide ban on gatherings of five or more people.Meanwhile, the government decided to ease social distancing measures to Level 2 ― the third highest in its four-tier system ― for the greater Seoul metropolitan area and

Feb 13, 2021
New virus cases dip below 400

COVID-19 cases fall back on Lunar New Year's Day, post-holiday virus fight in focus

Hand sanitizers are beached for visitors at Imjingak, a tourist spot in the inter-Korean border region of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 12, the Lunar New Year day. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases retreated Friday, apparently due to fewer tests amid the Lunar New Year holiday, but health authorities are staying vigilant over a potential uptick after the traditional holiday.The country reported 403 more COVID-19 cases, including 384 local infections, raising the total caseload to 82,837, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.Friday's daily caseload was sharply down from 504 cases reported the previous day, when the number of new cases surged to a 15-day high. The third wave of COVID-19 here reached its peak on Dec. 25, with the daily tally reaching 1,240, but has been showing a downward trend since. Recently, the daily caseload has been moving in the 300-400 range due to continuing cluster infections from unauthorized religious education facilities in the central and southwestern regions.Health authorities are trying to further slow down new inf

Feb 12, 2021
COVID-19 cases fall back on Lunar New Year's Day, post-holiday virus fight in focus

Egg prices jump 27% this year amid outbreak of bird flu

Prices of eggs in South Korea have jumped 27 percent so far this year, data showed Thursday, amid a supply shortage caused by the outbreak of bird flu here. gettyimagesbankPrices of eggs in South Korea have jumped 27 percent so far this year, data showed Thursday, amid a supply shortage caused by the outbreak of bird flu here.Sales prices of a carton of 30 eggs averaged 7,456 won (US$6.70) as of Monday, up from 5,862 won at the end of last year, according to the data compiled by Korea Agro-Fisheries Food Trade Corp.After topping the 6,000-won mark on Jan. 7, the prices continued to rise, affected by the outbreak of avian influenza. In January alone, prices of eggs jumped 25 percent.A sharp rise in egg prices came as the outbreak of bird flu has ravaged chicken farms across the nation since November last year.Despite the country's subdued inflationary pressure amid the new coronavirus pandemic, prices of agricultural and livestock products jumped last month.The consumer prices rose 0.6 percent on-year in January, growing less than 1 percent for the fourth straight month, according to

Feb 11, 2021
Egg prices jump 27% this year amid outbreak of bird flu

New virus cases at 15-day high as extended Lunar New Year holiday kicks off

South Korea's daily virus cases bounced back above 500 Thursday, putting authorities on heightened alert over a potential surge in infections during the extended Lunar New Year holiday. YonhapSouth Korea's daily virus cases bounced back above 500 Thursday, putting authorities on heightened alert over a potential surge in infections during the extended Lunar New Year holiday.The country added 504 more COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, including 467 local infections, raising the total caseload to 82,434, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.It marks the biggest daily tally since Jan. 27 when the figure was 559.The Thursday tally also marks a jump from 444 cases registered on Wednesday, 303 cases on Tuesday as well as Monday's 289 cases, which was the lowest daily tally since Nov. 23 last year.South Korea added 10 more deaths, raising the total to 1,496.Since late last month, the daily caseload has been moving in the 300-400 range due to continuing cluster infections from unauthorized religious education facilities in the central and southwestern regions.New vi

Feb 11, 2021
New virus cases at 15-day high as extended Lunar New Year holiday kicks off

COVID-19 drives down food poisoning cases to record low

Gettyimagesbank By Lee Hyo-jin The number of food poisoning cases in Korea dropped to a record low in 2020, due mainly to enhanced personal hygiene rules and the restricted operation of mass dining facilities spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.The ministry released a report on the country's food poisoning cases from last year. A total of 178 cases were reported nationwide, down 52 percent from the previous five-year average of 343. The number of food poisoned patients marked 53 per 1 million people, down 40 percent from a yearly average of 133 patients per million, seen during the previous five years. The numbers of both cases and patients marked the lowest the government has ever seen during the entire time that it has been collecting relevant data, since 2002, the Ministry noted. The Ministry viewed that the dramatic decline was attributable to COVID-19-induced measures, including strengthened personal hygiene rules

Feb 11, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
COVID-19 drives down food poisoning cases to record low

Korea OKs use of AstraZeneca vaccine for all adults

Food and Drug Safety Minister Kim Gang-lip speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Wednesday, on the conditional approval of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for all age groups including people aged 65 or older. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Wednesday it has approved the use of the COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca for all adults despite lingering concerns over its efficacy and safety especially for the elderly. The decision is contrary to that made by a dozen other countries which have either not approved use of the vaccine from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm and Oxford University or have recommended against giving shots to people aged over 65.Following the decision, anti-coronavirus inoculations are set to begin Feb. 26, with the AstraZeneca vaccine being the first to be administered before vaccines from other companies arrive.The ministry said that it decided to approve the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for adults aged over 18 on condition that the pharmaceutical company submits further

Feb 10, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea OKs use of AstraZeneca vaccine for all adults

Korea approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and older

Vials labelled "COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and syringe are seen in front of displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken Feb. 9, 2021. ReutersSouth Korea's drug safety agency on Wednesday approved the vaccine for the novel coronavirus by AstraZeneca for all adults, including those aged 65 and older, amid efficacy controversies.The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the use of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant and Oxford University following a final review meeting.The ministry approved AstraZeneca's two full-dose regimen on the condition that the pharmaceutical firm submit further data on the current phase three clinical trials on adults aged over 18.Still, the ministry cautioned against inoculating people aged 65 or older with the vaccine, after a separate review panel said earlier that there is not enough data on its efficacy for the age group.Controversies arose globally on the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for seniors as there is not enough data to back its efficacy in older people. Last week, the European Medicines Agency

Feb 10, 2021
Korea approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and older

Virus dampens homebound travel on Lunar New Year

A woman walks on the empty train platform at Seoul Station, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThe coronavirus pandemic put a damper on travel this Lunar New Year, with fewer people flocking to train stations and airports for the annual visit home.At 8:30 a.m., people dressed in long padded coats waited for their trains at Seoul Station, some carrying traditional gifts such as fruits and beef, and others sipping on coffee or looking at their phones.In the waiting area, people on benches left the middle seats empty to comply with social distancing protocols, while sanitation workers walked around cleaning and disinfecting every surface."There are more people than usual because it's the holiday, but it doesn't compare to previous Lunar New Year when the terminals were packed with people waiting for their trains," said a 47-year-old sanitation worker surnamed Kim.This year the holiday will begin Thursday and last four days including the weekend. To contain the spread of the coronavirus, the government has put in place special measures for the holiday, including selling only w

Feb 10, 2021
Virus dampens homebound travel on Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year to be critical juncture for pandemic battle: PM

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a meeting with health officials at the Gwangju city government in Gwangju, Wednesday. YonhapPrime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Wednesday that how the nation deals with the pandemic during this week's Lunar New Year holiday will be crucial in the outcome of South Korea's grueling battle against the third COVID-19 wave."The Lunar New Year holiday which begins tomorrow is an important crossroad for the trajectory of the COVID-19 (pandemic). The most critical-to-date third wave could either end, or its dying embers could flare up again," Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 response held in the city of Gwangju, 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul.Chung once again stressed the importance of the public's participation to flatten the curve of the third pandemic wave, which peaked at a record high of 1,241 daily cases on Dec. 25.On Wednesday, South Korea added 444 more COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, including 414 local infections, raising the total caseload to 81,930. The figure represents a spike from Tuesday as clusters of

Feb 10, 2021
Lunar New Year to be critical juncture for pandemic battle: PM
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