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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.

Mandatory mask-wearing to come into force in Seoul next week

A health official from the district office wearing protective gear walks near a banner showing a precaution against the coronavirus in Seoul, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. APThe Seoul metropolitan government will begin imposing fines of 100,000 won (US$88) on those who do not wear face masks in public next week, a measure aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.Enforcement of mandatory mask wearing will begin Nov. 13 after a one-month trial period, officials said.Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 14, the disabled and those diagnosed with a medical condition that makes it difficult for them to breathe through a mask.All others can also get a 20 percent reduction if they provide a reason for the violation by a deadline.The city government said it will enforce the rule on a wider scale than required by the central government, including at internet cafes and movie theaters.The five main areas of enforcement will be multiuse facilities subject to restrictions on assembly, public transportation, demonstration and rally sites, medical facilities and nursing homes.Of

Nov 1, 2020
Mandatory mask-wearing to come into force in Seoul next week
  • New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

Police officers wearing face masks stand guard in Seoul, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. APSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in triple digits for the fifth straight day on Sunday amid concerns that new infections could spike in the wake of Halloween celebrations held in the middle of eased social distancing steps.The country added 124 more COVID-19 cases, including 101 local infections, as cluster infections in greater Seoul rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,635.The figure marked the fifth triple-digit rise after 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday and 127 on Saturday.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 growth came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have been on the rise at small gatherings including family meetings across the country. Halloween, which fel

Nov 1, 2020
New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections
  • Itaewon, Hongdae areas crowded on Halloween despite virus woes
  • Mandatory mask-wearing to come into force in Seoul next week

Itaewon, Hongdae areas crowded on Halloween despite virus woes

Itaewon streets in Seoul are crowded on Halloween evening (Oct. 31), 2020. YonhapPopular areas in the South Korean capital were bustling with crowds celebrating Halloween on Saturday despite continued warnings by authorities against potential new coronavirus transmissions.While most major clubs in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam were closed as part of precautionary measures, people instead flocked to bars in the areas to enjoy the weekend.Itaewon in the central Seoul ward of Yongsan was crowded with people wearing Halloween costumes. The lines to sign digital entry logs were long, raising worries over possible transmissions despite people wearing anti-virus masks.Hongdae streets in Seoul are crowded on Halloween evening (Oct. 31), 2020. YonhapShop owners and visitors both appeared vigilant against the infectious virus."I'm planning to have a quick dinner with friends and we're not going to a bar," a twenty-something visitor said."I considered closing but decided to open since it has been really tough. I'm planning to strictly stick to the safety guidelines," a shop

Oct 31, 2020
Itaewon, Hongdae areas crowded on Halloween despite virus woes
  • New virus cases stay above 100 for 4th day
  • New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

83 deaths reported among people who received flu vaccine: authorities

GettyimagesbankThe Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Saturday that a total of 83 people, most of them elderly, had died after being administered with a seasonal flu vaccine. The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of flu shots, but the KDCA said the deaths of 72 of the people had very limited relation to the vaccinations ― the other 11 cases are currently under investigation.Of the total, 37 were in their 70s, followed by 34 aged 80 or older, eight under 60 and four in their 60s, the KDCA said.The health authorities have repeatedly said they have found no direct link between the flu shots and the deaths, urging people to get flu vaccinations before the onset of winter amid the coronavirus pandemic. Public anxiety has heightened over the safety of the vaccines after some ― part of the country's free inoculation program ― were exposed to room temperature during distribution. The authorities, however, said there were no safety issues.So far, more than 11.5 million South Koreans have received the free flu shot, accounting for 60.9 percent of the vaccin

Oct 31, 2020
83 deaths reported among people who received flu vaccine: authorities

New virus cases stay above 100 for 4th day

A health official wearing protective gear disinfects property in Seoul, Thursday, as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. APSouth Korea saw new COVID-19 infections for Friday stay in triple digits for the fourth straight day as infection clusters continued to pile up nationwide amid eased social distancing measures. The country added 127 more cases, including 96 domestic ones, raising the total caseload to 26,511, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Saturday.This marked a rise from the 103 new cases reported for Tuesday, 125 for Wednesday and 114, Thursday. The latest upticks were mostly traced to nursing homes for the elderly, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic group infections continued to rise from small gatherings, including family meetings, not only in the greater Seoul area but across the country.Since the government eased its social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level of a three-tier system Oct. 12, daily figures have been hovering around 100.The health authorities warned that cases may increase further on a p

Oct 31, 2020
New virus cases stay above 100 for 4th day
  • Itaewon, Hongdae areas crowded on Halloween despite virus woes

Fears growing over mass outbreak of COVID-19 ahead of Halloween

A street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, remains quiet, Wednesday, three days before Halloween. Popular clubs in the district have decided to close over the weekend to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiWith Halloween falling on Saturday, the authorities and experts reminded the public of their concerns that gathering in large groups for celebrations over the weekend could trigger another mass COVID-19 outbreak.“Again, we advise people to stay home and not to have any big gatherings for their safety,” Sohn Young-rae, an official from the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said during a daily briefing Friday. “The situation in the Seoul metropolitan area is rapidly reaching a flashpoint,” said Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease professor at Korea University's Guro Hospital, said during a YouTube broadcast the previous day. Large-scale popular nightclubs in Itaewon, Gangnam and Hongdae in Seoul have closed in cooperation with the government's infection control measures, but there is still a possibility of crowds flocki

Oct 30, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Fears growing over mass outbreak of COVID-19 ahead of Halloween

People turn to imported flu vaccine, local companies criticize gov't

Fewer people than ever wait in line at a hospital in Seoul, to get flu shots amid concerns about their safety, Wednesday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiPublic fear surrounding the seasonal flu vaccine is prompting more consumers look for imported flu shots in anticipation that these would be safer than ones produced by local pharmaceutical companies. As a result, local news outlets are reporting that there is now a shortage of imported vaccines. Seventy deaths have been reported among those getting free influenza vaccinations, but despite the government announcing that there was no proof that these were caused by the flu shots, public concern about the safety of the vaccines hasn't subsided. Out of 12 flu vaccines available in Korea, 10 are made by Korean companies and two by foreign ones. Those used in the government's free shot program were from LG Chemical, Boryung Biopharma, GC Pharma, Korea Vaccine, SK Bioscience and Sanofi Pasteur.These companies have joined the free vaccination program despite an anticipated loss ― although the government is paying 60 percent of the market price. On the

Oct 30, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
People turn to imported flu vaccine, local companies criticize gov't

Some mishandled flu vaccines used for inoculation: authorities

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo on Oct. 27 receives a flu vaccination at a medical clinic in Sejong. YonhapSome seasonal flu vaccines that were mishandled during storage were found to have been used for inoculation, health authorities said Friday.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said some of the bottles shipped by Shinsung Pharm. Co. were used in late September in neighborhood clinics as part a nationwide flu vaccination program.The program was temporarily halted on Sept. 22 after some of the inactivated vaccines shipped by the company were exposed to room temperature during shipping, stoking concerns over decreased vaccine potency and safety. The authorities later concluded there is no safety issue.The KDCA said it is currently looking into the exact number of bottles that were used and the number of people who had received the shots.Around 5 million doses shipped by the company were discarded.The country has been pushing for a free state flu shot scheme to inoculate around 19 million people, including teenagers and senior citizens.The free vaccin

Oct 30, 2020
Some mishandled flu vaccines used for inoculation: authorities

New virus cases above 100 for 3rd day, cluster infections in focus

Residents of Itaewon in Seoul's Yongsan District on Oct. 29 disinfect the popular night-out district's venues as Halloween approaches on Oct. 31. YonhapSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by triple digits for the third straight day Friday, as cluster infections across the country continued to pile up amid eased social distancing measures.The country added 114 more COVID-19 cases, including 93 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 26,385, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).It marked a rise from 103 new cases reported Wednesday and a slight fall from 125 on Thursday, it said. An average number of daily new cases over the past two weeks came to 96.4.The latest upticks were mostly traced to senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic group infections continued to rise at small gatherings, including family meetings not only in the wider Seoul area but across the country.Since the country eased the social distancing scheme by one notch to the lowest level of a three-tier system on Oct. 12, the daily figures have show

Oct 30, 2020
New virus cases above 100 for 3rd day, cluster infections in focus
  • Coronavirus spread continues as distancing guidelines lowered

Research team provides insight into COVID-19 lung damage

From left, KAIST professor Ju Young-seok, Dr. Lee Joo-hyeon of the University of Cambridge, National Institute of Health's head of viral disease research Choi Byeong-sun, Institute of Basic Science Director Ko Gou Young and Seoul National University Hospital professor Kim Young-tae / Courtesy of KAISTBy Kim Bo-eunA research team led by the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST) professor Ju Young-seok has set up a COVID-19 infection model, the university said earlier this week.KAIST said the model identifies the process in which the coronavirus destroys lung cells, which can contribute to the development of vaccines.The team derived cells from human lung tissue and grew them into 3D “mini lungs” to look into their response to the virus. This was developed because available laboratory strains of mice are not readily infected by the virus that causes COVID-19.The research team is comprised of Ju, Dr. Lee Joo-hyeon of the University of Cambridge, National Institute of Health head of viral disease research Choi Byeong-sun, Institute of Basic Science Direc

Oct 29, 2020By Kim Bo-eun
Research team provides insight into COVID-19 lung damage
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