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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.

South Korea to raise social distancing to second-highest Level 2.5 in capital area

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a government COVID-19 response meeting at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District on Sunday. The meeting decided to raise the social-distancing level across Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province regions to 2.5, the second-highest in the country's five-tier COVID-19 alert system. YonhapSouth Korea on Sunday decided to raise distancing regulations for the greater Seoul area to the second-highest level as part of its utmost efforts to stem a resurgence of the novel coronavirus.The government announced that the Level 2.5 distancing, the second highest in the country's five-tier COVID-19 alert system, will be applied to the nation's capital area, which covers Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, for the next three weeks."We've come upon a critical period in the fight against COVID-19," said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun during a government COVID-19 response meeting. "Despite our efforts to tighten social distancing, the daily number of infections rose to more than 500 last week from 400."The enhancement came as South Korea has been strugglin

Dec 6, 2020
South Korea to raise social distancing to second-highest Level 2.5 in capital area
  • Controversy rises over plans to penalize virus-infected workers
  • Ruling party chief vows efforts for early approval of coronavirus vaccines
  • COVID-19 cases bounce back to over 600

South Korea confirms another highly pathogenic bird flu case at poultry farm

Quarantine authorities and health officials of Yeongam County in South Jeolla Province are in the middle of culling and investigating environmental conditions at a chicken farm in the region on Dec. 5 after a duck farm in the region reported an avian influenza case the previous day. YonhapSouth Korea confirmed another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at a duck farm in a southern county Saturday, putting quarantine authorities on high alert. The latest case was reported at a duck meat farm in South Jeolla Province's Yeongam County, 308 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the provincial government.It marks the third highly pathogenic AI case reported at a poultry house this year and the first such case confirmed in South Jeolla Province in three years.Having blocked access to the affected farm and culled its ducks, local authorities plan to cull nearly 500,000 ducks and chickens in 10 nearby farms within a 3-kilometer radius as a precautionary measure, the regional government said. The municipality also designated the areas within a 10-km radius of the infected farm,

Dec 6, 2020
South Korea confirms another highly pathogenic bird flu case at poultry farm

COVID-19 cases bounce back to over 600

Streets near Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul's Jongno District are crowded on Dec. 5 after a national essay-type examination for university entrance in 2021 was held in the school. Yonhap The daily number of new coronavirus cases bounced back to over 600 on Sunday as authorities are considering raising social distancing measures to curb the relentless surge in COVID-19 transmissions.The country added 631 more COVID-19 cases, including 599 local infections, raising the total caseload to 37,546, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Five additional coronavirus fatalities were reported, bringing the total to 545.Health authorities will discuss whether to boost the social distancing measures by one notch from Level 2 in the greater Seoul area encompassing Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province and from Level 1.5 in other areas later in the day as the recently raised social distancing measures are considered ineffective. The country's social distancing level was pushed up to Level 2, the third highest in the five-tier system, in the greater Seoul area about t

Dec 6, 2020
COVID-19 cases bounce back to over 600
  • Controversy rises over plans to penalize virus-infected workers
  • Ruling party chief vows efforts for early approval of coronavirus vaccines
  • South Korea to raise social distancing to second-highest Level 2.5 in capital area

Ruling party chief vows efforts for early approval of coronavirus vaccines

Lee Nak-yon, chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, pledged Saturday to expedite the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, as the country is struggling with new spikes in coronavirus infections. YonhapLee Nak-yon, chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, pledged Saturday to expedite the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, as the country is struggling with new spikes in coronavirus infections."We will try to advance the approval of the use of COVID-19 vaccines as much as possible if safety is guaranteed," Lee said during a visit to SK Bioscience Co. in the southeastern city of Andong.The company signed an agreement with AstraZeneca in July to produce the British-Swedish bio giant's COVID-19 vaccine.The former prime minister noted development of COVID-19 treatments is under way in the country, and applications may be filed for conditional endorsement of use within the year."But vaccines require a higher level of safety than treatments, and there are also issues regarding not only effects but storage, distribution and price," he said during a meeting with company officials.Health offi

Dec 5, 2020
Ruling party chief vows efforts for early approval of coronavirus vaccines
  • Controversy rises over plans to penalize virus-infected workers
  • New virus cases below 600, bigger wave of pandemic in progress
  • COVID-19 cases bounce back to over 600
  • South Korea to raise social distancing to second-highest Level 2.5 in capital area
  • 'Korea facing greatest crisis in fight against COVID-19'

New virus cases below 600, bigger wave of pandemic in progress

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases here fell back to below 600 for Friday, following a nine-month high the previous day, with the health authorities remaining on critical alert over a bigger wave of the pandemic during winter. YonhapThe daily number of new COVID-19 cases here fell back to below 600 for Friday, following a nine-month high the previous day, with the health authorities remaining on critical alert over a bigger wave of the pandemic during winter.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 583 more infections were added, including 559 local case, raising the total caseload to 36,915. Four additional coronavirus deaths were also reported bringing the total to 540.The KDCA said an average 514.6 daily new cases occurred over the past week.South Korea reported more than 500 daily new infections for three consecutive days through last Saturday, before briefly falling back to 450 cases Sunday due to less testing over the weekend.The increase in daily cases stayed above 500 for the second consecutive day Wednesday and topped the high from nine months

Dec 5, 2020
New virus cases below 600, bigger wave of pandemic in progress
  • Ruling party chief vows efforts for early approval of coronavirus vaccines

Largest wave of infection looming

Exam takers wait in line to have their temperatures checked before entering a building at Soongsil University in Seoul, Friday, to take an essay test that is part of the university's admissions process. The essay test came one day after they sat the state-administrated scholastic aptitude test. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiConcerns are growing that the ongoing third wave of COVID-19 infections here could be more serious than the first wave in February and March, with the nation seeing the highest number of daily new infections in nine months, Friday.Adding to the woes are possible gatherings of students who want to enjoy themselves after taking the college entrance exam Thursday. Bracing for a larger surge of infections, the health authorities and local governments have issued stronger quarantine guidelines, and the central government will soon decide whether to raise its social distancing measures level.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), despite stricter antivirus measures since last weekend there were 629 coronavirus infections for Thursday, including 600 l

Dec 4, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Largest wave of infection looming
  • New virus cases at 9-month high of over 600
  • Seoul orders closure of stores, theaters, internet cafes after 9 pm

Controversy rises over plans to penalize virus-infected workers

Office workers stroll along the lane beside Deoksu Palace in Seoul after lunch, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanBy Bahk Eun-jiCertain companies here are facing a backlash after they threatened to punish workers who get COVID-19 by telling them that contracting the coronavirus would affect their personnel evaluations. Activists have pointed out that such a punitive action is a violation of human rights, with companies stigmatizing infected employees and attempting to excessively control their personal lives.The central and local governments are also being accused of abuse of authority over their plans to reprimand civil servants if they get infected with COVID-19 after not abiding by guidelines to refrain from unnecessary meetings, events or meals.According to industry sources, a manager at DB Financial Investment sent a threatening message to all employees, Nov. 16, a day after one employee was confirmed to have COVID-19. “It is not possible to discipline or punish her just because she was infected, but we will clearly impose disadvantages in personnel management

Dec 4, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Controversy rises over plans to penalize virus-infected workers
  • Ruling party chief vows efforts for early approval of coronavirus vaccines
  • COVID-19 cases bounce back to over 600
  • South Korea to raise social distancing to second-highest Level 2.5 in capital area
  • 'Korea facing greatest crisis in fight against COVID-19'

Seoul orders closure of stores, theaters, internet cafes after 9 pm

People walk on a zebra crossing in front of a department store in Christmas season themed decorations amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul, Nov. 26, 2020. ReutersThe Seoul city government said Friday that stores, theaters and multiple other facilities must close after 9 p.m. for two weeks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup announced the new restriction during a virtual press briefing, saying the order will go into force Saturday."Seoul is currently facing a desperately dangerous crisis," he said. "We have no room left to retreat. Starting tomorrow, we are halting Seoul after 9 p.m."The order came after the city reported a record high 295 new coronavirus cases Thursday, the same day the country posted a nine-month high of 629 new infections in a day.The city authorities later confirmed 195 more COVID-19 cases from midnight to 6 p.m. Friday, raising the city's cumulative virus caseload to 9,911. Businesses subject to the new restriction include stores, movie theaters, internet cafes, game arcades, private academies, study halls, amusement parks,

Dec 4, 2020
Seoul orders closure of stores, theaters, internet cafes after 9 pm
  • New virus cases at 9-month high of over 600
  • Largest wave of infection looming

New virus cases at 9-month high of over 600

Health officials arrive to disinfect classrooms before the college entrance exams at a high school in Seoul, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. APThe daily number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea topped 600 on Friday, the most in nearly nine months despite tightened antivirus measures, putting the country under a critical alert over a bigger wave of the pandemic coming during the winter.The country added 629 more COVID-19 cases, including 600 local infections, raising the total caseload to 36,332, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). It reported seven additional coronavirus fatalities, bringing the total to 536. What is more concerning is that the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country's population, has been witnessing its daily new cases soar to a record high for the past few days.South Korea reported more than 500 daily new infections for three consecutive days through Saturday last week, before briefly falling back to 450 cases Sunday due to less testing over the weekend.The increase in daily cases stayed above 500 for the second consecutive day

Dec 4, 2020
New virus cases at 9-month high of over 600
  • Seoul orders closure of stores, theaters, internet cafes after 9 pm
  • Largest wave of infection looming

Korea confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild bird

GettyimagesbankSouth Korea on Thursday confirmed another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a wild bird, with local authorities raising their guard against its transmission into poultry farms.The latest case came from wild birds in Buan, 280 kilometers south of Seoul in North Jeolla Province, raising the total bird flu cases here since October to 13, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The country is currently carrying out investigations on droppings of wild birds gathered from Suncheon, 415 km south of Seoul as well. It takes a few days to find out whether they are highly pathogenic."The virus can be transmitted through various means, including cars, people and wild birds. Local poultry farms need to carry out thorough preventive measures, including wearing different shoes for each shed," a ministry official said.Highly pathogenic avian influenza is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.South Korea reported its first highly pathogenic AI case in 32 months in late October from Cheonan, 92 km south of Seoul.Sin

Dec 3, 2020
Korea confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild bird
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