my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Health

QR code scanning becomes mandatory at bars, karaokes

A local government official makes sure a QR code scanner works in a singing room located in Gwangju, Tuesday, one day before it became mandatory for admission. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongMandatory QR code scanning went into effect Wednesday for bars, room salons and singing rooms across Korea, one of many measures taken by the health authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19. Also, indoor sporting facilities and indoor theaters must scan visitors.The government introduced the mandatory scanning as infections linked to entertainment outlets have continued after an outbreak linked to bars in early May.For churches and cram schools which have also seen a massive number of people gather, however, the government is only recommending QR code scanning so far.The scanning is expected to further assist the government's efforts to trace the whereabouts and contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Until now, the government mainly used credit card transaction records and phone signals, but this drew criticism for infringing on privacy. It is unclear if QR code scanning will let th

Jun 10, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
QR code scanning becomes mandatory at bars, karaokes

S. Korea reports 50 new cases of coronavirus infection

- S. Korea reports 50 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,902- 2 more virus deaths, death toll now at 276- 22 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,611South Korea's new virus cases spiked again Wednesday as sporadic cluster infections continued in the greater Seoul area, prodding health authorities to consider more stringent social distancing in the densely populated area.The country added 50 new cases, including 43 local infections, raising the total caseload to 11,902, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).It marked a rebound after the country's new COVID-19 cases hovered below 40 for the second straight day.All but three of the locally transmitted cases were reported from the Seoul metropolitan area.South Korea has been dogged by multiple, sporadic cluster infections tied to religious gatherings, nightclubs and a logistics center in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area after the country relaxed its social distancing scheme May 6.Health authorities warned Tuesday that potential mass

Jun 10, 2020
S. Korea reports 50 new cases of coronavirus infection

WHO chief warns virus is worsening globally

Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2020. ReutersNew coronavirus cases had their biggest daily increase ever as the pandemic worsens globally and has yet to peak in central America, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, urging countries to press on with efforts to contains the virus."More than six months into the pandemic, this is not the time for any country to take its foot off the pedal," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online briefing.More than 136,000 new cases were reported worldwide on Sunday, the most in a single day so far, he said. Nearly 75% of them were reported from 10 countries, mostly in the Americas and South Asia.In response to a question on China, WHO's top emergencies expert, Dr. Mike Ryan, said retrospective studies of how the outbreak has been addressed could wait, adding: "We need to focus now on what we are doing today to prevent second peaks."Ryan also said infections in central Amer

Jun 9, 2020
WHO chief warns virus is worsening globally

In New Zealand, shopping, parties and big hugs mark start of 'COVID-free' life

Commuters wait for transport at a bus interchange in Christchurch, New Zealand, Monday, June 8, 2020. New Zealand appears to have eradicated the coronavirus, at least for now, after health officials said Monday the last known infected person had recovered. APNew Zealanders hugged and kissed, shopped, and planned parties on Tuesday as the country took off all coronavirus restrictions for the first time in more than three months, while much of the rest of the world is still grappling with the pandemic.The South Pacific nation of 5 million declared on Monday that it was free of the coronavirus, becoming one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality.This meant no more limits on people in cafes, malls, stadiums, night clubs or public and private gatherings. Life, for the most part, is back to normal."I'm just walking in the city today and I've seen more people than I have seen in months," said Steve Price of the capital, Wellington."People are shopping, dining and just hanging about holding hands... it's so lovely to see," he said.New Zealanders are emerging

Jun 9, 2020
In New Zealand, shopping, parties and big hugs mark start of 'COVID-free' life

VIDEO Altruism 'only solution against pandemic'

French economist/futurologist Jacques Attali spoke about the post-pandemic era. Capture from YouTube account of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KoreaBy Dong Sun-hwaAltruism is the sole solution to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping the planet, according to French economist/futurologist Jacques Attali. “The only way to fight against the pandemic is to act altruistically. By protecting others, you can protect yourself,” Attali said during a video interview released on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monday. Professor Choi Jung-wha, of the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and president of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), was the interviewer. The talk was part of the ministry's online interview series, which aims to discuss the post-pandemic era with high-profile intellectuals from around the globe. Attali elaborated on his point, saying, “Many people thought isolating and closing doors were the solutions to protect themselves, but this is not appropriate because the world today is very interdependent. Practicing altruism

Jun 9, 2020By Dong Sun-hwa
Altruism 'only solution against pandemic' [VIDEO]

Korea reports 38 more cases of new coronavirus

A health official wearing protective gears puts a sample of a person into a plastic bag during the COVID-19 testing at a makeshift clinic in Seoul, Friday, June 5, 2020. APSouth Korea is ratcheting up efforts to stem the further spread of the new coronavirus in the capital region amid concerns over a potential hike in new cases traced to cluster infections.The country added 38 new cases, including 35 local infections on Tuesday, raising the total caseload to 11,852, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked daily new cases of below 40 for the second straight day, and a slight decrease from 57 cases a day earlier and 51 on Saturday.All but two of the locally transmitted cases were reported from the Seoul metropolitan area.South Korea has been wrestling with multiple, sporadic cluster infections tied to religious gatherings, nightclubs and a logistics center in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area after the country relaxed its social distancing scheme on May 6.Infections traced to a warehouse run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon,

Jun 9, 2020
Korea reports 38 more cases of new coronavirus

As temperature rises, race for cool masks heats up

By Bahk Eun-jiConsumers are once again complaining about a shortage of face masks ― this time a new type that is cheaper and allegedly easier to breathe in than ones already available, and is primarily designed to block exhaled water vapor.Mask manufacturer Welkeeps began sales of “saliva droplet prevention” masks Monday at 9 a.m., but its inventory was sold out in less than 20 minutes. A new type of “saliva droplet prevention mask.” YonhapConsumers who had been accessing the website even before the sales time quickly pressed the purchase button at 9 a.m., but the payment process did not proceed smoothly as the server was overloaded.“Access Delay and Error messages keep popping up on the Welkeeps website, and while repeating this process, the masks have been sold out,” said Park Kyung-hwan, a customer who tried to buy one. Welkeeps expanded its sales channel to Naver Store, as a countermeasure after its online mall shut down Friday, but this was no different. On the first day the manufacturer began selling the masks, 7.8 million people logged into

Jun 8, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
As temperature rises, race for cool masks heats up

S. Korea reports 38 new cases of coronavirus infection

- S. Korea reports 38 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,814- No additional virus death, death toll now at 273- 11 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,563South Korea's new virus cases slowed Monday after reporting more than 50 cases for two consecutive days, but concerns are running high over the second wave of the pandemic in greater Seoul as more South Korean pupils returned to classes in the final phase of the country's school reopening plan.The country added 38 new cases, including 33 locally transmitted cases, raising its total caseload to 11,814, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked a slight decrease from 57 cases announced a day earlier and 51 on Saturday.All of the locally transmitted cases were reported from the Seoul metropolitan area.South Korea has been grappling with a string of group infections linked to religious gatherings, nightclubs and a distribution center in the metropolitan area since relaxing its social distancing scheme on May 6.More recently, new mass

Jun 8, 2020
S. Korea reports 38 new cases of coronavirus infection

Last group of students back to school today

Students attend physical education class while wearing masks at Gwacheon High School in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, June 3, 2020. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiMiddle school freshmen and fifth and sixth grades of elementary school students are going back to school in the final phase of the government's planned reopening, Monday, even as the country has seen a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent days.According to the Ministry of Education, an estimated 1.35 million students begin their on-site classes today, 99 days after the delaying of their spring semester. After a long closure imposed due to the new coronavirus, Korea allowed the phase-wise opening of schools when the virus spread appeared to come under control in early May. High school seniors returned on May 20, as they face a hectic academic schedule up until they sit for the country's college entrance exam, which is now scheduled to commence on Dec. 3. With the fourth and last group of students returning to school, a total of 5.95 million pupils are now attending regular classes.According to the data from the education ministr

Jun 7, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Last group of students back to school today

Coronavirus survivors face mental health challenges

Medical workers in protective gear carry a COVID-19 patient at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in this Feb. 19 photo. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiIn early March when the country's coronavirus crisis reached its peak, especially in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, President Moon Jae-in referred to the COVID-19 pandemic as a “war,” during a weekly Cabinet meeting.Survivors of a war may struggle with a psychiatric condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other life-threatening experiences may present similar challenges as seen in former patients who have recovered from serious illnesses as they learn to cope with the mental health ramifications of those experiences.A patient, who was diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and discharged from hospital in 2015, described his experience of treatment for the virus infection as “something that ordinary people can never know unless they are in my shoes.”“It was so frustrating. I didn't know the outside world at all, and my famil

Jun 7, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Coronavirus survivors face mental health challenges
previous page
355356357358359
next page

Most Read in South Korea