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Are charities using virus donations well? Calls rise for improvement

As COVID-19 cases spike in the country, people have been generous in their donations to charities to aid virus victims. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-lee, Dong Sun-hwaLegions of Koreans have donated cash to help in the nationwide battle against the coronavirus (COVID-19). The total of their contributions to the two flagship charity organizations here ― the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association and the Community Chest of Korea ― is more than 150 billion won ($116 million), according to data from the organizations.But both institutions revealed they had spent only a third of the money. Hope Bridge told The Korea Times that, as of March 17, it had used 30.9 billion won ($24.5 million) out of 90 billion won ($71.3 million) to support virus-hit people and regions. The Community Chest of Korea said it had spent 21 billion won ($16.6 million) out of 62.5 billion won ($49.5 million), as of March 15.The charts show the percentage of completed and in-progress donations made by the two charity organizations.Such a low distribution rate has raised concerns with people on whether their donations are b

Mar 20, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Are charities using virus donations well? Calls rise for improvement

New cases fall below 100 again, but concerns persist over new cluster infections

South Korea recorded fewer than 100 new daily virus cases again on Friday, but health authorities remained on high alert over new cluster infections and imported coronavirus cases. The 87 new cases, which were detected Thursday, brought the nation's total number of infections to 8,652, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The daily infection rate has been in double digits this week, except for the 152 new cases reported Wednesday.So far, 94 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus.About 60 percent of confirmed cases have been linked to a branch of the Shincheonji religious sect in Daegu, which has a population of 2.5 million and is the country's fourth-largest city.The pace of daily new infections has shown marked signs of slowing since the second week of this month as health authorities completed extensive testing of 210,000 Shincheonji followers at the center of the rapid spread.But the authorities are still on high alert over new clusters of infections, including at a call ce

Mar 20, 2020
New cases fall below 100 again, but concerns persist over new cluster infections

New virus cases climb as new infection clusters emerge

Police in Daegu set up a barricade in front of Hansarang Hospital for the elderly which saw dozens of new coronavirus cases, in Daegu, Thursday. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongKorea continued to see a daily increase in new COVID-19 cases as cluster infections appeared in Daegu, the epicenter of the outbreak here, and other regions, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), Thursday.There were 152 new cases reported Wednesday, a number back up to three-digit figures after infections had been tallied in double-digits for three days, bringing the total number of infections to 8,565, with 91 fatalities, the KCDC said.Daegu alone added 97 new cases involving people staying in 11 elderly care centers including Hansarang in Suseong District. The Daegu Metropolitan Government said the count is likely to go up as its search for suspected patients in these facilities is ongoing. Daegu has 330 such care centers with 33,628 patients and medical service providers.The government said more than 80 percent of infections occurred in small groups, which were similar to the Shin

Mar 19, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
New virus cases climb as new infection clusters emerge

'It was very painful': Teen survivor of COVID-19 shares her story

A view of the quarantine facility Kim used in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of KimBy Jung Min-hoA teenager who has recovered from COVID-19 said she suffered “enormous pain” until all symptoms suddenly disappeared after 10 days.In a letter to the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, the woman, 18, surnamed Kim, who lives in Daegu, explains how she contracted the coronavirus and survived it.Kim said it started after speaking with a follower of Shincheonji, a shadowy religious sect responsible for much of the virus spread in Korea, near a subway station on Feb. 20.The Shincheonji member tried to make conversation with Kim, who briefly responded after taking off her mask. It later turned out that the person had been infected with the virus. On March 4, Kim tested positive for COVID-19.“I did not know it would spread that quickly,” she said.Kim started showing COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, on March 5. She had quarantined herself at home until March 9 due to a lack of beds in quarantine facilities.Until then, she isolated herself in a roo

Mar 19, 2020By Jung Min-ho
'It was very painful': Teen survivor of COVID-19 shares her story

S. Korea reports 152 new virus cases, total at 8,565. Death toll hits 91

South Korea reported 152 new cases of the new coronavirus Thursday, up from 93 new cases a day earlier, bringing the nation's total infections to 8,565, as health authorities have stayed alert for cluster infections across the nation.The 152 new cases, which were detected Wednesday, reversed four days of double-digit daily new infections. So far, 91 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.About 60 percent of confirmed cases have been linked to a branch of the Shincheonji religious sect in Daegu, which has a population of 2.5 million and is the country's fourth-largest city.The pace of daily new infections has shown marked signs of slowing since the second week of this month as health authorities completed extensive testing of 210,000 Shincheonji followers at the center of the rapid spread.But the authorities are still on high alert over new clusters of infections, including at a call center in Seoul's Guro distri

Mar 19, 2020
S. Korea reports 152 new virus cases, total at 8,565. Death toll hits 91

S. Korea imposes special quarantine measures on all arrivals from abroad

Health officials check health conditions of arrivals from China at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 24. YonhapSouth Korea started imposing special quarantine measures for all new arrivals from abroad on Thursday as it guards against imported cases of the novel coronavirus, the country's health authorities said.South Koreans and foreign nationals alike are subject to the strict measure, and all entrants to the country must undergo fever checks at air terminals and sea ports, according to the health authorities.Those who have a cough, a sore throat and other symptoms believed to be related to COVID-19 must write down their condition on a health questionnaire. All arrivals are required to provide the address they will be staying at and contact information such as a phone number to authorities.People also have to download a self-check app that will allow them to regularly report their state of health online. Those who feel unwell for two consecutive days will be contacted by a community health service center that will determine if the person needs to be tested for viral infection.Th

Mar 19, 2020
S. Korea imposes special quarantine measures on all arrivals from abroad

Consumers inundated with misinformation about coronavirus

The World Health Organization states on its website that eating garlic will not prevent coronavirus infection./ Screen capture from www.who.intBy Kim Se-jeongThe coronavirus pandemic is seeing health-conscious people fall for inaccurate information on social media and the internet. One popular message that went viral on Kakao Talk encourages people to eat more curry powder: “The reason why not many Indians have contracted the coronavirus is that they eat curry powder a lot. Don't rely on government guidelines alone but try to eat more curry to protect yourself.”Spraying salt water was another popular piece of information that is inaccurate; and an outbreak at a local church proved this.A non-denominational church in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province sprayed salt water in the mouths of each arriving member on March 1 and 8 and saw tens of its members contract the virus later in the month. So far, 54 people ― church members, their families and acquaintances ― have been infected. “What happened in the non-denominational church is a good example of how wrong information can i

Mar 18, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Consumers inundated with misinformation about coronavirus

WHO to join Korea's clinical research on COVID-19

President Moon Jae-in takes off his mask at a meeting with his cabinet members on the new coronavirus in Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday./ YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong The World Health Organization (WHO) will participate in clinical research being conducted in Korea on COVID-19, which is spreading rapidly around the world, the government said Wednesday.According to the Ministry of Health, WHO officials will join new working-level coronavirus research headed by the National Institute of Health. “The joint research will be focused on data collection and analysis as well as information use,” a health ministry official said during a press briefing. Reportedly, the WHO has shown an interest in patients' response to exploratory treatment, case studies of patients in a critical condition and observations by medical service providers in the field. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, Korea saw 93 additional COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases to 8,413 with 91 fatalities, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Among the 93 was a 23-year-old woman from B

Mar 18, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

17-year-old with pneumonia symptoms dies in Daegu

Health workers move a coronavirus patient to an isolation ward at Yeungnam University Medical Center. Courtesy of the hospital By Park Si-soo A boy, 17, died in Daegu on Wednesday after showing symptoms of pneumonia. A post-mortem coronavirus test is being done to determine the cause of his death. The boy died at 11:15 a.m. at Yeungnam University Medical Center. He had no underlying disease but had multiple organ failure at the time of death, according to reports. If the boy is confirmed to have died from coronavirus, he will be the youngest victim here of a disease that has claimed 84 lives in South Korea (as of noon Wednesday). Daegu is the epicenter of the country's growing coronavirus outbreak.He reportedly visited a medium-size hospital in Daegu on March 13 complaining of fever. An X-ray revealed he was developing pneumonia and he was sent to a bigger hospital, Yeungnam University Medical Center. On the day, he tested negative for coronavirus. At Yeungnam, his health deteriorated rapidly over a couple of days and he was placed on a respirator. “Multiple tests were con

Mar 18, 2020
17-year-old with pneumonia symptoms dies in Daegu
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