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Reining in COVID-19 cases during Chuseok key agenda for gov't

A social distancing sign is seen on a table to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at No Brand Burger in Seoul, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. APSouth Korea is on alert to rein in new coronavirus cases during an upcoming major holiday when tens of millions of people usually travel across the country to reunite with their families and relatives.This year, South Koreans are set to enjoy five days off including the three-day Chuseok holiday that falls from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Chuseok is one of the country's biggest traditional holidays, during which families hold traditional rituals thanking their ancestors.While the number of people who travel to their hometowns is expected to decline amid lingering concerns over the new coronavirus, health authorities view the holiday as a critical event that could easily lead to a spike in infections."The holiday period, spanning Chuseok and Hangeul Day, is expected to be the biggest challenge against antivirus efforts in the second half of the year," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday, announcing the government's plan to designate the two wee

Sep 15, 2020
Reining in COVID-19 cases during Chuseok key agenda for gov't

Korea to secure coronavirus vaccines for 60% of population

In this July 27, 2020, file photo, a nurse prepares a shot as a study of a possible COVID-19 vaccine gets underway in Binghamton, N.Y., Sept. 8, 2020. APSouth Korea aims to secure enough new coronavirus vaccines to administer to 30 million people, or roughly 60 percent of the country's population, the health ministry said Tuesday.Under the COVID-19 vaccine plan discussed at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, the country will seek to get vaccines for 10 million people from the COVAX Facility, set up by the World Health Organization and global vaccine alliance Gavi, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.The rest will be acquired through arrangements with private companies, the ministry added.It is estimated that two doses of vaccine are required for an individual to acquire immunity to the virus.The ministry said that based on demand and progress made by local pharmaceutical companies, the country will seek to secure vaccines for a further 20 million people that will allow everyone to receive vaccinations."The initial target of inoculating 60 p

Sep 15, 2020
Korea to secure coronavirus vaccines for 60% of population

New virus cases under 200 for nearly two weeks

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus visit the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. APSouth Korea's new virus cases stayed below 200 for the 13th consecutive day on Tuesday as the country's tougher social distancing scheme has taken effect, but a rise in untraceable cases and cluster infections are still a drag on the country's virus fight.The country added 106 more COVID-19 cases, including 91 local infections, raising the total caseload to 22,391, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).It marked a slight drop from 109 cases reported on Monday. The number of additional patients reached 121 on Sunday and 136 on Saturday.The number of local infections remained in double digits for the third consecutive day, but health authorities are still struggling to regain control over the spread of the virus due to increased cases with unknown transmission routes and sporadic clusters.Over the past two weeks, 23.5 percent of the additional cases had unidentified infection routes, while 30.9 percent were linked t

Sep 15, 2020
New virus cases under 200 for nearly two weeks

15 scientists launch critique of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine data

Small toy figures are seen in front of a “COVID-19 Vaccine” logo in this illustration taken, Sept. 9, 2020. ReutersA group of scientists sent a formal letter to the Lancet on Monday outlining doubts about the accuracy of early data on Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, one of the authors said, adding further fuel to a dispute surrounding the "Sputnik-V" shot. Fifteen scientists from five countries signed the letter presenting their concerns to the international medical journal, Enrico Bucci, biologist adjunct professor at Philadelphia's Temple University, told Reuters. Reuters did not see the contents of the letter. The move nonetheless highlights growing concern among scientists about the safety and efficacy of the Sputnik-V vaccine, which the government approved for use before completing full human trials. The official letter came days after a larger group of scientists - including the 15 - signed an open letter to the Lancet's editor, published on Bucci's personal blog, after the journal published the early-stage trial results from Moscow's Gamaleya Institute. They said they f

Sep 15, 2020
15 scientists launch critique of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine data

Korea to develop COVID-19 treatment this year, vaccine next year

Jeong Eun-kyeong, the first head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), speaks during her inaugural ceremony at Osong health and medical administrative town in Sejong, Monday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced Monday the government's goal of securing a domestically developed treatment for COVID-19 this year and a vaccine next year.During an opening ceremony following the reorganization of the former Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) into the KDCA, an independent agency with more authority to respond to infectious disease more effectively, its chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said, “We will push ahead with overcoming COVID-19 as a top priority in response to the public's trust and expectations.”In her inaugural speech, Jeong told agency personnel, “We are still in the middle of a stormy sea. As the captain and a sailor of this new ship called the KDCA, I will be your companion to complete this voyage with all of you.”The government had already announced plans for the mass-product

Sep 14, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea to develop COVID-19 treatment this year, vaccine next year

ABL Bio, HiFiBiO Therapeutics partner for COVID-19 treatment

By Nam Hyun-wooABL BioABL Bio said Monday it has signed a partnership agreement with multinational drug maker, HiFiBiO Therapeutics, on the development of a novel neutralizing antibody treatment for COVID-19.According to the Korean biotech company, the two sides submitted an investigational new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 25, and will soon finalize the terms of their agreement to produce the treatment by mid-2021.The candidate, ABL901, is an anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody engineered with specific sequences identified from the B cells of COVID-19 convalescent patients. Due to its extended half-life, the antibody is anticipated to effectively treat patients who have contracted the disease, while also being used as a preventative measure for people who have a high risk of exposure to the virus, such as healthcare workers, ABL Bio said. ABL Bio and HiFiBiO expect to initiate early clinical trials in the U.S. within this month, estimated to take up to one month. Late-stage trials will follow with a goal of wrapping them up in April 2021. The companies

Sep 14, 2020By Nam Hyun-woo
ABL Bio, HiFiBiO Therapeutics partner for COVID-19 treatment

Next two months to be 'tougher' with more coronavirus deaths: WHO Europe director

A logo is pictured on the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 22, 2017. ReutersThe World Health Organization expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body's European branch told AFP on Monday."It's going to get tougher. In October, November, we are going to see more mortality," WHO Europe director Hans Kluge said, as the continent currently experiences a surge of cases though the number of deaths has remained relatively stable.The resurgence is however expected to lead to an increase in daily deaths, the WHO said."It's a moment where countries don't want to hear this bad news, and I understand," Kluge told AFP in an interview, stressing that he wanted to send the "positive message" that the pandemic "is going to finish, at one moment or another."The WHO Europe's 55 member states are holding an online meeting on Monday and Tuesday to discuss their response to the new coronavirus and agree on their overall five-year strategy.However Kluge, based in Copenhagen, raised a warning finger to

Sep 14, 2020
Next two months to be 'tougher' with more coronavirus deaths: WHO Europe director

Seoul to extend ban on rallies of 10 or more in antivirus measure

Visitors wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus walk while maintaining social distancing in Seoul, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)The Seoul city government on Monday announced a plan to extend a ban on rallies of 10 or more people to next month in line with the country's continued fight against the new coronavirus.South Korea also eased enhanced antivirus curbs that had been in place in the capital area Monday. For the next two weeks, eateries are permitted to operate normally as long as they strictly follow certain measures, such as keeping entry logs and abiding by sanitary rules.The government, however, said it will set the two weeks starting Sept. 28 as a special period for strong nationwide antivirus efforts since early October is expected to be "the biggest challenge" to curbing COVID-19 cases in the second half of the year.The city's decision to extend the ban on rallies to midnight on Oct. 11 is in line with the designation of the special period.The ban on rallies was first imposed on Aug. 21 after mass anti-government rallies held earlier i

Sep 14, 2020
Seoul to extend ban on rallies of 10 or more in antivirus measure

1 out of 1,440 people tests positive for coronavirus antibodies in Korea

A man wearing a face mask walks past a banner showing precautions against the coronavirus at subway station in Seoul, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. APOnly one out of 1,440 people tested positive for coronavirus antibodies in South Korea, a second round of antibody tests in the country showed Monday, reinforcing the notion that the nation's aggressive containment efforts might have curbed the prevalence of the virus. The result also indicated that herd immunity, which refers to a scenario where enough people in a community develop immunity to an infection so that the infection stops spreading, is impossible in South Korea, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The KDCA said containment efforts are the only way to slow the spread of the virus until an effective vaccine is available. Experts have also said it is common for people who tested positive for the virus but did not show symptoms to lose their immunity.The second serology tests were conducted on the 1,440 people in 13 major cities and provinces between June 10 and Aug. 13.In July, the KDCA found that

Sep 14, 2020
1 out of 1,440 people tests positive for coronavirus antibodies in Korea

Pfizer CEO: Company will know whether COVID-19 vaccine works by end of next month

A sign is pictured outside Pfizer Headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., July 22, 2020. ReutersPfizer CEO Albert Bourla on Sunday said there is a good chance the company will know whether its COVID-19 vaccine candidate will work by the end of October, but was unsure how long it would take to receive approval.Appearing on CBS News' Face the Nation, Bourla said that the study of the effectiveness of its vaccine candidate has "recruited very quickly" as it increases from 30,000 participants to 44,000 participants, adding Pfizer feels "quite comfortable" with the safety of the product."In our base case, we have quite the good ― it's more than 60% that we will know if the product works or not by the end of October. But of course, that doesn't mean that it works. It means we will know if it works," he said.Last month Pfizer said its vaccine candidate was on track for regulatory review as early as October, as the novel coronavirus has sickened 6,496,159 people in the United States and resulted in 193,787 deaths, according to data collected by John's Hopkins

Sep 14, 2020
Pfizer CEO: Company will know whether COVID-19 vaccine works by end of next month
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