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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.

Wild boar numbers down 83 percent with African swine flu culling

A member of the African swine flu field response team from Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province looks at a wild boar trapped on a mountain in the county's Sanae Village on Apr. 22, 2020. Korea Times fileBy Ko Dong-hwanAbout a year after African swine flu (ASF) was discovered in wild boars in inter-Korean border regions, a culling has reduced the animal's numbers by 83 percent, according to the central government Wednesday.A wildlife disease control team under the Ministry of Environment said a count was done over 1,061 square kilometers across six cities and counties in the region, including Paju in Gyeonggi Province, after the disease was discovered in October 2019. The number was 8,237 then and 1,404 in September this year after the cull.The reduction has brought down the animal's density from 6.1 a square kilometer in 2019 to 1.4 this year, which is under the ASF controlling standard of two. In a broader region spanning 3,176 square kilometers that includes the southernmost fences separating boars from people, the number is estimated to be down from 22,203 in October 2019 to 14,000

Nov 4, 2020By Ko Dong-hwan
Wild boar numbers down 83 percent with African swine flu culling

New virus cases bounce back to over 100 again

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus visit the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. APSouth Korea's new coronavirus infections bounced back to over 100 three days after rising by two digits Wednesday as sporadic cluster infections from hospitals and informal gatherings continued.The country added 118 more COVID-19 cases, including 98 local infections, raising the total caseload to 26,925, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The latest upticks came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have also taken place at small gatherings of families and friends.Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.Health authorities are still on guard against potential cases tied to Halloween parties over the weekend, as young people gathered at clubs and bars in Seoul amid eased social distancing measures. Authorities are paying

Nov 4, 2020
New virus cases bounce back to over 100 again

88 dead after receiving flu shots: authorities

A man receives a flu shot at a clinic in Seoul, Oct. 26. Korea's public health agency said Tuesday that 88 people have recently died after getting seasonal flu shots. YonhapSouth Korea's public health agency said Tuesday that a total of 88 people, most of whom were elderly, died after being administered with seasonal flu vaccines. The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of such vaccines, but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 83 of those deaths have very limited relation with the flu shots. Another five cases are under investigation.Of the total, 38 people were in their 70s, followed by 35 people aged 80 or older, seven under 60 and eight in their 60s, the KDCA said.The health authorities have repeatedly said they have found no direct link between flu shots and deaths, urging people to get flu vaccinations before the onset of winter amid the coronavirus pandemic. Public anxiety has heightened over the safety of flu vaccines after some vaccine bottles ― part of the country's free inoculation program ― were exposed to room temperature during distr

Nov 3, 2020
88 dead after receiving flu shots: authorities

New virus cases below 100 for 2nd day amid concerns over post-Halloween surge

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus run during rain at the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. APSouth Korea's new coronavirus infections stayed in double digits for the second consecutive day Tuesday, but concerns remain over cluster infections following Halloween celebrations over the weekend. The country added 75 more COVID-19 cases, including 46 local infections, raising the total caseload to 26,807, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The figure marked a fall from Monday when the triple-digit growth fell back to double digits for the first time in six days, the KDCA said. The number of locally transmitted cases slipped below 50 for the first time in two weeks, while 29 were infected abroad, it said. Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.The latest cases came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections

Nov 3, 2020
New virus cases below 100 for 2nd day amid concerns over post-Halloween surge

Government to focus on reducing COVID-19 mortality rates

An ambulance leaves a nursing hospital for the elderly in Gyeonggi Province, in this Oct. 25 photo. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe government has shifted the focus of its COVID-19 quarantine policies from preventing new cases to lowering death rates, the health authorities said Monday. As the country has changed tack toward coexisting with the coronavirus, government officials are looking at management of the epidemic rather than fighting to defeat the virus outright.Experts generally evaluated this critical patient-centered response positively, but also pointed out that there are a lack of detailed measures for vulnerable facilities, such as nursing homes for senior citizens, where infection clusters have continued to emerge.The reasoning behind the easing of social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level, Oct. 12, which was explained by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Sunday, was sustainability, with the goal of reducing the number of deaths rather than minimizing infections.In this regard, the capacity to handle patients in a critical condition

Nov 2, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Government to focus on reducing COVID-19 mortality rates
  • Eased social distancing creates mixed reactions
  • More elderly patients suffering abuse amid COVID-19 pandemic

New virus cases return to double digits, cluster infections still worrisome

 South Korea's daily new infections fell back below 100 on Monday, snapping rises of over 100 for five consecutive days, as sporadic cluster infections were still rampant in the wider Seoul metropolitan area.The country added 97 more COVID-19 cases, including local infections, as cluster infections in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,732.The figure marked a slight fall after triple-digit gains for five consecutive days: 103 new cases reported Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday, 127 on Saturday and 124 on Sunday, it said.The latest fall came as fewer tests are usually carried out on weekends compared with weekdays. Halloween celebrations on Saturday in the middle of eased social distancing steps were also a cause for concern."Daily new cases posted a double-digit growth for Monday, yet we have to consider that the number of tests being taken on the weekend tends to be lower," Second Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said in a government respons

Nov 2, 2020

New virus cases return to double digits

A public transit bus with a face mask design in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, promotes face masking to prevent getting infected with COVID-19 on Monday. The design was applied to 20 of the city transit buses. Courtesy of Seosan City OfficeSouth Korea's daily new infections fell back below 100 on Monday, snapping rises of over 100 for five consecutive days, as sporadic cluster infections were still rampant in the wider Seoul metropolitan area.The country added 97 more COVID-19 cases, including local infections, as cluster infections in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,732.The figure marked a slight fall after triple-digit gains for five consecutive days: 103 new cases reported Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday, 127 on Saturday and 124 on Sunday, it said.The latest fall came as fewer tests are usually carried out on weekends compared with weekdays. Halloween celebrations on Saturday in the middle of eased social distancing steps were also a c

Nov 2, 2020
New virus cases return to double digits
  • Will Halloween serve as catalyst for massive COVID-19 infections?
  • PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme

Will Halloween serve as catalyst for massive COVID-19 infections?

Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in central Seoul, was crowded with people celebrating Halloween, Saturday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeConcern is growing that Halloween celebrations held Saturday, could have sparked another round of mass COVID-19 outbreaks as popular areas in Seoul such as Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam were bustling with crowds despite the health authorities' continued warnings against potential virus transmissions.The authorities are worried because the country experienced a surge in new daily infections in May that were traced to nightclubs in Itaewon.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Sunday, 277 infected people including 139 in Seoul, were tracked to the nightclubs after the first case was confirmed May 6.The KDCA reported 124 new infections for Saturday, raising the total caseload to 26,635. Among the 124, the number of local cases stood at 101.Amid continuous sporadic infection clusters reported at hospitals, nursing homes, saunas, schools and other places, the country's daily tally of new cases has been in triple digits for five

Nov 1, 2020
Will Halloween serve as catalyst for massive COVID-19 infections?
  • New virus cases return to double digits

PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a meeting at the government complex in Seoul, Sunday. YonhapPrime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday announced a new social distancing scheme based on five levels instead of three, saying the new plan aims to improve anti-virus measures in a tailored fashion amid criticism the current system is too broad-brush."We are trying to improve effectiveness by reconstructing antivirus measures in a tailored fashion," he said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.The prime minister said that under the new scheme facilities will be grouped into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at "high-risk" facilities will now apply to all facilities.The announcement came as South Korea reported triple-digit new case numbers for the fifth straight day, bringing the total caseload to 26,635. (Yonhap)

Nov 1, 2020
PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme
  • New virus cases return to double digits

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Sustainable infection control in our daily lives

By Park Neung-hoo It has been three weeks since social distancing measures were lowered to Level 1 with the government cautiously lifting restrictions on various daily activities.Students now attend classrooms in person more often, the elderly may gather in community centers, and sports fans can enjoy baseball games on-site. Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and WelfareHowever, infection control requirements still must be strictly followed. The transition to “distancing in daily life” does not mean the risk of the spread of COVID-19 has diminished. As infection clusters continue to occur, the virus can spread out of control as soon as we let our guard down. Many countries are returning to strict restrictions under the threat of a second wave of COVID-19. The United Kingdom, with 20,000 new cases per day, banned gatherings of six or more people and closed restaurants and pubs after 10 p.m. Germany is also seeing about 10,000 new cases per day and prohibited gatherings of 10 or more people in some regions, including Berlin. It is difficult to implement effective infection

Nov 1, 2020
[ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL] Sustainable infection control in our daily lives
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