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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.

New infection cases hit fresh high, virus response faces biggest peril

Workers renovate a room in Bagae Hospital in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 19, to facilitate the hospital as more suitable to serve COVID-19 patients in critical conditions. The private hospital voluntarily designated itself as a facility dedicated to COVID-19 patients that are surging in South Korea. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases spiked by more than 1,000 for the fifth straight day to hit a fresh record high Sunday, putting the country's virus battle in the most trouble so far amid rising death tolls.The country added 1,097 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,072 local infections, raising the total caseload to 49,665, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The tally marked a rise from 1,053 cases Saturday and 1,062 Friday. The previous record high was reported at 1,078 on Wednesday.The country is mulling whether to raise its social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme, as the recent virus tally has already met criteria for the level.Level 3 can be adopted when locally transmitted cases hover between 800 and

Dec 20, 2020
New infection cases hit fresh high, virus response faces biggest peril
  • Gov't urged to establish law on pre-purchasing of vaccines
  • 'South Korea to begin COVID-19 vaccination in first quarter of 2021'

Private general hospitals ordered to provide more ICU beds for COVID-19 patients

The government issued an emergency order earlier this week telling private hospitals nationwide to earmark a certain portion of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds for seriously ill COVID-19 patients, officials said Saturday. YonhapThe government issued an emergency order earlier this week telling private hospitals nationwide to earmark a certain portion of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds for seriously ill COVID-19 patients, officials said Saturday.The administrative order, the first of its kind, was delivered by the Central Disaster Management Headquarters to all local governments Friday, the officials said, as part of efforts to cope with the worsening ICU bed shortages caused by the recent surge in coronavirus infections. The order mandates about 40 private general hospitals ― alongside state-run university hospitals ― to assign at least 1 percent of their beds for critically ill COVID-19 patients. "With the recent surge in confirmed coronavirus cases, it is important to secure more hospital beds to treat seriously ill patients," said the central headquarters, noting the ord

Dec 19, 2020
Private general hospitals ordered to provide more ICU beds for COVID-19 patients
  • Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 4th day, concerns rise over hospital capacity

Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 4th day, concerns rise over hospital capacity

The country's daily new COVID-19 cases topped the 1,000 mark for the fourth consecutive day for Friday on continued infection clusters nationwide, deepening concerns over hospital intensive care unit (ICU) bed shortages for seriously ill patients. YonhapThe country's daily COVID-19 cases topped the 1,000 mark for the fourth consecutive day for Friday on continued infection clusters nationwide, deepening concerns over hospital intensive care unit (ICU) bed shortages for seriously ill patients.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), reported 1,053 new infections, including 1,029 local cases, raising the total caseload to 48,570,.This is the first time that the daily number has stayed above 1,000 for four straight days. After reaching a record high of 1,078 for Tuesday, the daily caseload inched down to 1,014 the following day and then bounced back to 1,062 for Thursday.Infection clusters have been breaking out across the country, with senior citizen care hospitals, religious facilities, schools and offices hit particularly hard. Of the locally transmitted cases, more th

Dec 19, 2020
Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 4th day, concerns rise over hospital capacity
  • Private general hospitals ordered to provide more ICU beds for COVID-19 patients

INTERVIEW 'Mutated pathogens make wildlife-borne diseases like COVID-19 harder to treat'

A zoo veterinarian takes a sample from a bat for research on the coronavirus at the Palmyre Zoo, which was closed to the public due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Les Mathes, France, April 21, 2020. ReutersBy Ko Dong-hwanThe National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention Head Noh Hee-kyong. Courtesy of NIWDCWhile the seemingly interminable COVID-19 global pandemic is believed to have started with an endemic disease in bats that was transmitted to humans via a third species of animal, other cases of such zoonotic diseases have become (and are becoming) harder to treat because of mutations within the nuclear structure of the pathogens, according to the chief of the country's new wildlife diseases control agency.In the past, viral transmission appeared to be restricted to within species boundaries ― humans or animals. But certain novel viruses have been discovered that can be transmitted across these boundaries infecting both humans and animals, and at a certain point some began to mutate and become deadly in certain species. “Take coronavirus, for example,” Noh

Dec 18, 2020By Ko Dong-hwan
[INTERVIEW] 'Mutated pathogens make wildlife-borne diseases like COVID-19 harder to treat'

Gov't urged to establish law on pre-purchasing of vaccines

Medical workers collect specimens from people for COVID-19 tests at a temporary testing center in front of Seoul Station, Friday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiInfectious disease experts urged Korea to pass a bill allowing for the pre-purchase of vaccines before they are licensed, saying the lack of laws has resulted in the country's relatively late purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and the resulting insufficient amount of vaccines.The government said, Friday, it plans to start offering vaccines to people early next year, by pushing to sign vaccine procurement contracts with Janssen and Pfizer later this month and inking another deal with Moderna next month, in addition to the deal already signed with AstraZeneca. It said it has secured early access to the vaccines developed by the four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project to secure enough vaccines for 44 million people.The scheme has brought some criticism that Korea's vaccine purchases have come late, as the United Kingdom and the United Nations have started vaccinations already and some 30 countries are expected to start d

Dec 18, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Gov't urged to establish law on pre-purchasing of vaccines
  • Virus already widely spread through asymptomatic carriers
  • New infection cases hit fresh high, virus response faces biggest peril
  • 'South Korea to begin COVID-19 vaccination in first quarter of 2021'

Virus already widely spread through asymptomatic carriers

People line up to receive COVID-19 tests at a makeshift testing center at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, Friday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe resurgence in the COVID-19 pandemic here appears to have been spread, at least in part, through asymptomatic carriers in the Seoul metropolitan area, with at least 170 people confirmed this week to be infected with the coronavirus that causes the disease. These people were tested at temporary testing centers where those with no symptoms or no contact history with confirmed patients were able to undergo tests.Since Monday, the health authorities have been operating 150 makeshift testing booths in Seoul and the surrounding area to provide free diagnostic tests in an effort to preemptively diagnose asymptomatic coronavirus carriers in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Friday, the 170 people visited metropolitan area testing booths from Monday to Thursday where they tested positive for the coronavirus.During the period, 70,709 people underwent tests at the facilities.

Dec 18, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Virus already widely spread through asymptomatic carriers
  • Gov't urged to establish law on pre-purchasing of vaccines

'COVID-19 will strengthen Korea-US healthcare ties'

Participants of the 11th American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Healthcare Innovation Seminar speak during a panel discussion session of the seminar at the Millennium Hilton Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of AMCHAM KoreaBy Nam Hyun-wooPrime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic will strengthen the ties between the Korean and U.S. healthcare industries, serving as a cornerstone for the two countries' mutual economic growth in the future.Chung made the remarks during his video message for the 11th American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Healthcare Innovation Seminar at the Millennium Hilton Seoul, Thursday. “I expect Korea and the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic will further strengthen and expand the cooperation between the two countries' healthcare institutions, firms and hospitals,” Chung said. “We will maintain close ties with the incoming U.S. administration led by President-elect Joe Biden and continue to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance. I hope that all members of AMCHAM, who have served as a bridge between the

Dec 18, 2020By Nam Hyun-woo
'COVID-19 will strengthen Korea-US healthcare ties'

Korea pushes to strike COVID-19 vaccine deals with Janssen, Pfizer this month

A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken on Oct. 30, 2020. ReutersSouth Korea said Friday it will push to sign COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts with Johnson Johnson's Janssen and Pfizer later this month and ink another deal with Moderna next month.The health ministry last week said it has secured early access of the vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project for 44 million people, enough to cover 88 percent of the nation's population.The government has formally struck a purchase deal with AstraZeneca for 10 million people, and made an advance payment of 85 billion won (US$77.6 million) in October to the World Health Organization's global vaccine project, known as COVAX.The government said it will purchase 20 million doses each from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna, which require two shots, and buy 4 million doses from Johnson Johnson's Janssen, which requires one shot.The ministry has set aside 1.3 trillion won of

Dec 18, 2020
Korea pushes to strike COVID-19 vaccine deals with Janssen, Pfizer this month
  • US FDA advisory panel endorses Moderna vaccine authorization
  • China plans to vaccinate 50 million people before Lunar New Year

Gov't to make 'bold' decision on social distancing restrictions if necessary: PM

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, right, speaks during a meeting at the Seoul city government in central Seoul, Friday. YonhapPrime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday the government will thoroughly prepare for the potential toughening of social distancing restrictions and make a swift and "bold" decision when it's necessary. "While making meticulous preparations, the government will make a bold decision at a time when (an elevation of the distancing rule) is deemed necessary," Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic response at Seoul City Hall.Health authorities raised social distancing measures to Level 2.5, the second highest in the five-tier system, in the greater Seoul area early last week, with most other regions under Level 2, but the virus has continued to spread across the nationChung acknowledged the public's interest toward Level 3 distancing was high, with the daily average number of new coronavirus cases topping 900 over the past week.The government was collecting a broad range of opinions from involved state agencies, local governments and experts

Dec 18, 2020
Gov't to make 'bold' decision on social distancing restrictions if necessary: PM
  • Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 3rd day; toughest curbs still under review

Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 3rd day; toughest curbs still under review

A medical worker wearing protective gear takes sample from a woman during a COVID-19 testing at coronavirus testing site in Seoul, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. APSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases topped the 1,000 mark for the third day Friday on continued cluster infections nationwide and increased tests, but health authorities remain cautious about adopting the toughest virus restrictions due to the far-reaching economic impact.The country added 1,062 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,036 local infections, raising the total caseload to 47,515, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).It is the first time that the daily number has stayed above 1,000 for the third consecutive day. The country reported record high daily virus cases of 1,078 on Wednesday, and the figure slightly fell to 1,014 the previous day.The resurgence of new virus cases has been putting pressure on local authorities to raise the country's virus response measures to the highest level, but they are still reluctant to do so, as the strongest virus curbs, the highest under the five-tier s

Dec 18, 2020
Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 3rd day; toughest curbs still under review
  • Gov't to make 'bold' decision on social distancing restrictions if necessary: PM
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