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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 virus cases fall back below 100 as nation vigilant ahead of key holiday

People sitting this year's national civil servant Level 7 qualification test walk toward a test center at a high school Attached to Chunag-Ang University College of Education in Seoul's Gangnam District, Saturday. YonhapNew COVID-19 cases fell below 100 for the first time in four days here Saturday, as the country is struggling with sporadic infection clusters in the greater Seoul area and persisting untraceable cases ahead of a major holiday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 61 new infections, including 49 local ones, bringing South Korea's total to 23,516 as of midnight Friday.The number marked the first fall below 100 after three consecutive days of triple-digit new daily infections ― the KCDA reported 114 new cases Friday.The country had seen daily new cases in the triple-digit range for more than a month since mid-August due mainly to a surge in infections tied to a church in northern Seoul and an anti-government rally, with the figure soaring to a five-month high of 441, Aug. 27.But the figure fell to double digits Sunday and skidded to as low as

Sep 26, 2020
New virus cases fall back below 100 as nation vigilant ahead of key holiday
  • 75% of Seoul residents have no plans to travel during Chuseok: poll

Will flu vaccine mishandling lead to supply crisis?

Citizens wait in long lines to get free flu vaccinations at the Korea Association of Health Promotion's Seoul branch, Thursday, as some vaccine bottles to be used for the government's free flu shot program were found to have been mishandled. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeConcerns are growing over a possible shortage of seasonal influenza vaccines that could result in higher prices, following the distributor's mishandling of some vaccine bottles.Citizens here, who already suffered a face mask supply crisis earlier this year when the COVID-19 outbreak worsened, are expressing worries over the flu vaccine fiasco amid mounting fears of a so-called “twindemic” ― an overlap of flu season with a possible surge in coronavirus cases this fall and winter. The government was planning to provide free flu shots for some 19 million people, or 37 percent of the country's population, including children and adolescents aged from six months to 18 years, pregnant women and those aged 62 and above. The number of people entitled to free vaccinations increased from 13.8 million last year amid concerns

Sep 25, 2020
Will flu vaccine mishandling lead to supply crisis?

Gov't extends level 2 social distancing for 2 weeks

A woman walks past a singing room in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Friday, while the attached notice reads that it is closed due to bans imposed on high-risk facilities in the greater Seoul area. / YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinThe government decided Friday to extend the current Level 2 social distancing scheme for another two weeks as part of the strengthened quarantine measures for the upcoming Chuseok long weekend.The current social distancing guidelines imposed nationwide were initially planned to end at midnight Sunday.But the health authorities decided to set two weeks from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 as a special quarantine period to tighten antivirus efforts, as a large number of people are expected to travel across the country to visit their families and relatives. The five-day Chuseok long weekend begins on Sept. 30. Under the measures, night entertainment facilities including clubs and bars will be closed nationwide. Indoor gatherings of 50 people or more and outdoor events of 100 or more will continue to be prohibited. Sports games including traditional folk games and local festivals can be held

Sep 25, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Gov't extends level 2 social distancing for 2 weeks
  • New virus cases over 100 for third day, virus fight put to test ahead of holiday

Over 100 people injected with mishandled flu vaccines: KCDC

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong speaks at a press briefing at its office in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Friday. YonhapMore than 100 people have been injected with seasonal flu vaccines that should not have been administered due to storage problems, authorities said Friday.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said hospitals and public health centers in Seoul and three other areas gave flu shots to 105 people with some of the vaccines that weren't supposed to be administered after being exposed to room temperature.The agency said the affected people have been informed of their injections, and it was monitoring whether they were showing any side effects.Yet, none of the people injected with such vaccines have showed extraordinary reactions, the agency said, adding it will keep close tabs on those people.The agency said it was initially testing 750 doses of the exposed flu vaccines and planned to carry out an additional test.On Tuesday, the KDCA temporarily halted its plan to offer free seasonal flu vaccines after some

Sep 25, 2020
Over 100 people injected with mishandled flu vaccines: KCDC

Korea to spend 94 billion won this year to develop homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

GettyimagesbankSouth Korea will spend a total of 94 billion won (US$80.3 million) this year to help local firms develop homegrown vaccines and treatment drugs to fight the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Friday.The government also plans to set aside 260.4 billion won next year to develop vaccines and treatment drugs against the new coronavirus, officials said.The plan came after senior officials held a pan-government meeting with executives from pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms earlier in the day.Currently, clinical trials of 15 treatment drugs and one vaccine are under way in South Korea.Last week, the government approved phase two and three trials for Celltrion Inc.'s CT-P59 treatment material that could be used to combat the novel coronavirus.The advanced trials came after initial tests carried out on healthy people showed the material is not harmful for use.The next stage of trials will be conducted on people with mild and severe symptoms, which will allow researchers to better check CT-P59's efficacy against COVID-19.As part of efforts to help develop treatment drugs,

Sep 25, 2020
Korea to spend 94 billion won this year to develop homegrown COVID-19 vaccine
  • Chinese company says coronavirus vaccine ready by early next year

New virus cases over 100 for third day, virus fight put to test ahead of holiday

A woman wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus walks at a park in Seoul, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. APSouth Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 100 for the third straight day Friday due to continued rises in sporadic cluster infections, putting the country's virus fight to the test ahead of a major holiday.The country added 114 more COVID-19 cases, including 95 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,455, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).It marked a fall from 125 new cases reported Thursday but stayed higher than 110 cases Wednesday. Daily infections fell to double digits for the third day in a row Tuesday.The country's new virus cases had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14, due to cases tied to a church and a political rally, with new cases soaring to 441 on Aug. 27.New COVID-19 cases have been on a slowing trajectory on the back of tougher virus curbs, but they have been not easily brought down under 100, the target set by health authorities.The country's virus fight stands at a crit

Sep 25, 2020
New virus cases over 100 for third day, virus fight put to test ahead of holiday
  • Gov't extends level 2 social distancing for 2 weeks

Medical students to end boycott of licensing exam

A statement by senior medical students canceling the license exam boycottBy Kim Se-jeongSenior medical students who have boycotted the national license exam said Thursday they will end the boycott, a move viewed by the medical community as appropriate after it had raised concern over a possible shortage of doctors next year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.“We express our intention to return to take the national licensing exam given that the nation is expected to suffer a shortage of doctors in the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement released by the students read. Out of 3,172 qualified applicants, only 446, or 14 percent, actually applied for the exam. The Ministry of Health and Welfare remained firm in saying the students were too late to take this year's exam.The ministry has said accepting any late applications would be difficult, citing public opinion. On Cheong Wa Dae's website, a petition against accepting late applicants has drawn almost 570,000 supporters.Doctors claimed the government should give them a chance, because otherwise, Korea may experience a s

Sep 24, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Medical students to end boycott of licensing exam

New virus cases over 100 for second day, sporadic cluster infections still worrisome

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk at the Cheonggye Stream during launch time in Seoul, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. APSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed over 100 for the second straight day Thursday, as sporadic cluster infections continued to strain the country's virus fight ahead of major holidays. The country added 125 more COVID-19 cases, including 110 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,341, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).South Korea had reported less than 100 new virus cases for three straight days from Sunday before the daily tally bounced back to over 100 Wednesday.The country's new daily infections had been in triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.Of the additional locally transmitted cases, 92 came from the nation's capital area, with 39 reported in Seoul and 43 in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, located west of Seoul, added 10 more patient

Sep 24, 2020
New virus cases over 100 for second day, sporadic cluster infections still worrisome

Jeju on high alert over tourist inflow during Chuseok holiday

Tourists take a selfie in a pink muhly grass garden on Jeju Island, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeOfficials on Jeju Island are bracing for a possible surge of COVID-19 infections on the resort island as many tourists are expected to visit there during the five-day Chuseok long weekend that starts Sept. 30.The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said Wednesday that reservation rates for hotels on the southern island during the holiday had reached 56 percent as of Monday.Jeju officials expect more than 300,000 people to travel to the island during the holiday period, despite the government's plea to refrain from going out and conducting outdoor activities amid a second wave of COVID-19 infections. This is raising concerns among residents, with some even posting a petition on the website of Cheong Wa Dae, calling on the government to take measures to prevent people from visiting the island. One petitioner wrote, “A number of Jeju residents have canceled their plans to visit other parts of the nation due to the pandemic. The government should take mea

Sep 23, 2020

Flu vaccine crisis looming large amid pandemic

People wait for flu vaccine shots that they opted to pay for at a public medical clinic in Gwangju, Wednesday. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongA flu vaccine crisis is looming after the government's temporary halt of a free vaccination program created panic among the public, Wednesday, with people rushing to pay for flu shots nationwide.Pediatric clinics were especially busy dealing with parents asking about paying for flu shots for their children. Other clinics were also busy fielding similar inquiries, with some seeing people queuing to pay for vaccinations. The government suspended its free program after its supply was subject to inappropriate storage temperatures during transit. This year, the government obtained 29.5 million flu vaccine doses, among which 19 million were allocated for the free shot program for children, pregnant women and the elderly. The remainder have to be paid for at medical clinics which charge between 10,000 won and 40,000 won. About 5 million doses of the free vaccine were suspected of being inactivated after being exposed to room temperatures during distribution. Th

Sep 23, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Flu vaccine crisis looming large amid pandemic
  • New virus cases bounce back to over 100 on untraceable cases
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