my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Health

Another foreign ministry employee tests positive for coronavirus

Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Seoul/ Korea Times fileAnother case of the new coronavirus was confirmed at the foreign ministry building in central Seoul on Monday, officials said.A ministry employee tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day after visiting a guesthouse in the southern resort island of Jeju last week, where a cluster infection has been reported.About 10 people who came into contact with the patient went into self-quarantine, and the 9th floor of the building where the employee works was disinfected.The case raised the number of infections reported at the ministry building to four. Two other cases were reported from the nearby main government building.South Korea has been struggling to contain a resurgence in the number of the new coronavirus cases with sporadic cluster infections reported across the country. On Monday, the country announced 248 new COVID-19 cases over the preceding 24 hours, raising the total caseload to 19,947. (Yonhap)

Aug 31, 2020
Another foreign ministry employee tests positive for coronavirus

Untraceable infections soar in Seoul

A customer carries takeout coffee at a coffeehouse in Seoul, Monday, with only orders for takeout coffee allowed at franchises as the government imposes strengthened antivirus measures in the greater Seoul area to contain another nationwide outbreak. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Monday that the number of coronavirus infections from untraceable routes has reached its highest level since the first coronavirus patient was confirmed here in January.The total number of new daily COVID-19 infections stayed below 300 for the second consecutive day, Sunday, but the quarantine officials continue to remain vigilant over the growing number of such untraceable cases as they pose a greater challenge in containing the ongoing outbreak.According to the KCDC there were 248 new cases, Sunday, including 238 local infections, raising the overall caseload to 19,947. One additional patient died, raising the death toll to 324.Although fewer virus tests over the weekend might have led to the lower number, new daily cases decreased for a fourth consecu

Aug 31, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Untraceable infections soar in Seoul

S. Korea reports 248 new virus cases

- S. Korea reports 248 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 19,947- 1 additional coronavirus death, total at 324- 70 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 14,973The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea stayed below 300 for the second consecutive day Monday, but health authorities are keeping their guards up as sporadic cluster infections and a growing number of patients with unknown infection routes continue to put a strain on the country's virus fight.The country reported 248 new COVID-19 cases, including 238 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,947, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). One more patient died from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll to 324.Monday's daily tally marks a sharp drop from 299 cases identified the previous day. But fewer virus tests over the weekend might have dragged down the number of new cases.The country's daily tally of COVID-19 cases went down for the fourth straight day after it reached a near six-month high of 441 cases on Thursday. South K

Aug 31, 2020
S. Korea reports 248 new virus cases

Korea's COVID-19 cases set to surpass 20,000

Chairs are placed on benches and tables in a cafe in Seoul, Sunday, the first day of the government's week-long social distancing restrictions on restaurants, bakeries and cafes. Korea Times photo by Bae-woo-hanSocial distancing toughens as 299 new infections reportedBy Bahk Eun-jiKorea's total COVID-19 caseload is expected to exceed 20,000 soon, as the country has seen triple-digit daily increases for more than two weeks now.According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country reported 299 new cases, Sunday, including 283 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,699. Two more patients died, raising the death toll to 323. The country is only 301 cases away from reaching 20,000. “Epidemiologists predicted that if the current situation keeps up, the daily number of virus cases could go up to 800, or even 2,000 next week,” KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a regular briefing at the government complex in Sejong, Friday. “If we don't control the current virus trend immediately, the number of confirmed patients can surge ex

Aug 30, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea's COVID-19 cases set to surpass 20,000

Doctors continue strike despite government's threat of punishment

An inpatient enters Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Sunday./ YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong Trainee doctors vowed Sunday to continue their ongoing strike in protest of the government's healthcare system reform plan, a move expected to pose a bigger threat to Korea in its response to COVID-19. Representatives of interns and resident doctors met Saturday night for an overnight meeting to decide whether to continue the ongoing strike. The first round of a general vote among representatives didn't land on a majority decision, yet the second vote found 134 votes in favor of the strike, out of 186. Korea has about 13,500 trainee doctors.The Minister of Health and Welfare quickly slammed the decision, calling it inconsiderate of the lives of 51 million citizens. Also the ministry criticized the trainee doctors for their stubbornness.“The move came after the government stepped back. The government proposed to scrap the plan in exchange for them returning to work and to start talking to doctors about the reforms after the pandemic crisis in Seoul metropolitan area subsides,” a

Aug 30, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Doctors continue strike despite government's threat of punishment

Seoul imposes 'week of standstill' to fight spread of COVID-19

The city of Seoul on Sunday designated this week as a "week of standstill" for nearly 10 million citizens in its latest measure to fight the spread of the new coronavirus in the capital area.During the "10 Million Citizen Standstill Week," which runs from Sunday to next Sunday, citizens are advised to remain at home and stay away from social gatherings as much as possible, Seo Jeong-hyup, the city's acting mayor, said in an online press briefing. "This is a time of burden sharing. ... Over the next week starting today, I ask you to thoroughly abide by quarantine requirements with a resolution to almost sacrifice your everyday routines," the acting mayor said. If the virus' rapid spread is not contained now, the economy could face a terrible situation, he said, pleading with citizens to join the city's prevention efforts. As the country's daily tally of new COVID-19 cases has been in the triple digits for nearly two weeks, the government toughened its social distancing requirements last week, restricting the business hours of restaurants, bakeries and franchise cafes in Seoul and the

Aug 30, 2020

Pandemic will continue, vaccine gives no guarantee: experts warn

Ju Young-su, right, a doctor at the National Medical Center heading the bed management team of the Central Clinical Committee for Emerging Disease Control, speaks during a press conference at the National Medical Center Building in Seoul, Aug. 25. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiEven if a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, it neither guarantees an end to the pandemic, nor promises to work any better than wearing masks, according to public health experts.As the latest uptick in the number of new virus infections rings alarm bells ― especially in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province ― many wonder when the spread of the virus will reach its peak and then begin to decline. “We have to wait at least eight months for the coronavirus vaccine; next spring at the earliest. It seems everyone looks forward to a vaccine development, but I have to say that it is hard to expect a vaccine that prevents the virus from further spreading completely or reduces mortality,” said Oh Myung-don, chairman of the Central Clinical Committee for Emerging Disease Control, and a renowned infectious diseases ph

Aug 30, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Pandemic will continue, vaccine gives no guarantee: experts warn

34 infection cases traced to Protestant church in Daegu

A total of 34 COVID-19 cases have been traced to a Protestant church in the southern city of Daegu, putting the city on high alert against a potential resurgence of mass infections.About 30 more cases were detected in recent days among members of the city's Sarang Church, putting the total caseload related with the church at 34 as of Sunday. Five of them tested positive after attending mass rallies on Aug. 15 in central Seoul, according to the city government.It marks the biggest infection cluster in Daegu since thousands of COVID-19 cases were confirmed inside the fringe religious sect Shincheonji's Daegu branch in March.The city sent emergency text messages to citizens late Saturday, reminding local churches of the nationwide ban on church gatherings and regular services currently in place.The city also prodded those who have COVID-19 symptoms after contacting Sarang Church members or joining the rallies in Seoul to come forward to be tested immediately.Currently, the city is running COVID-19 tests on members of the church after securing a list of some 100 members, according to cit

Aug 30, 2020
34 infection cases traced to Protestant church in Daegu

S. Korea enforces 8-day 'lockdown-level' social distancing in greater Seoul

“Don't sit” signs on tables at a cafe in Seoul, Sunday. Under an enhanced social distancing rule, imposed on Seoul and surrounding areas from Sunday, coffee shops are allowed to take orders for takeout or delivery. Korea Times photo by Park Si-sooSouth Korea began Sunday to restrict operations of restaurants, bakeries and franchise coffee chains in the greater Seoul area in an effort to contain the fast spread of the new coronavirus.Under the plan that lasts until next Sunday, restaurants and bakeries can operate until 9 p.m., and only takeaways and delivery will be permitted from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.For franchise coffee chains, only takeout or delivery will be permitted regardless of operating hours, as cluster infections traced to coffee shops have been reported.When customers visit coffee chains for takeaway, they should follow quarantine measures, such as signing entry logs, wearing masks and keeping a safe distance.The move is part of the government's strengthened virus curbs in Seoul and surrounding areas, home to half of the country's 51 million population, as the coun

Aug 30, 2020
S. Korea enforces 8-day 'lockdown-level' social distancing in greater Seoul

S. Korea reports 299 new virus cases

- S. Korea reports 299 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 19,699- 2 additional coronavirus deaths, total at 323- 138 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 14,903The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea fell below 300 on Sunday for the first time in five days as health authorities extended tougher social distancing measures in the greater Seoul area for one more week.South Korea reported 299 new COVID-19 cases, including 283 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,699, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Two more patients died, raising the death toll to 323.Sunday's daily tally marks a drop from the previous day when the country's new virus cases came to 323. Still, the number of daily virus cases has stayed in the triple digits for more than two weeks.Of the 283 locally transmitted cases, 203 were identified in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country's 51 million population.Seoul added 114 more cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and western port city of Incheon

Aug 30, 2020
S. Korea reports 299 new virus cases
previous page
322323324325326
next page

Most Read in South Korea