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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.

Moon declares 'war' against coronavirus, puts gov't on 24-hour alert

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in stated Tuesday that South Korea has begun a "war" against COVID-19 as the crisis in Daegu and nearby North Gyeongsang Province peaks, placing all government agencies on a 24-hour full alert.Speaking at a weekly Cabinet meeting, he announced plans to inject 30 trillion won (US$25 billion) of funds directly or indirectly into the virus response. The meeting was held in combination with a daily session of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the government office complex in Seoul.He said the continuing confirmation of additional cases is "a critical phase."He pointed out the situation has become completely different before and after the massive infections linked with a fringe religious group known as Shincheonji. Many of its followers were found to have contracted the virus after attending crowded worship services at a Daegu church in February. His remarks came as health authorities put the total number of those infected with the virus in the nation at 4,812, up 600 from Monday. Most of the cases were rep

Mar 3, 2020
Moon declares 'war' against coronavirus, puts gov't on 24-hour alert
  • Virus fatalities mostly elderly patients with underlying diseases
  • Korea reports 600 new virus cases, total now at 4,812
  • Three additional coronavirus cases reported in military, total at 31
  • Korea striving to improve supply of masks amid public anger

Korea reports 600 new virus cases, total now at 4,812

Korean soldiers wearing protective gear sanitize a city after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, March 2, 2020. ReutersSouth Korea reported 600 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections here to 4,812, with an alarming cluster of infections continuing to swell in the southeastern city of Daegu. So far, 28 people, mostly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year. Daegu reported one more death from the virus earlier in the day, but the new death was not included in an official update. The 600 new cases, which were tallied at midnight Monday, followed the nation's sharpest daily spikes of 1,062 as of end-Sunday and 813 as of end-Saturday.About 60 percent of confirmed cases have been linked to a branch of the Shincheonji religious sect in the southeastern city of Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city, with a population of 2.5 million. The justice ministry said last week that some

Mar 3, 2020
Korea reports 600 new virus cases, total now at 4,812
  • Korean airports begin coronavirus screenings on US-bound travelers
  • Virus fatalities mostly elderly patients with underlying diseases
  • Three additional coronavirus cases reported in military, total at 31
  • Korea striving to improve supply of masks amid public anger
  • Moon declares 'war' against coronavirus, puts gov't on 24-hour alert

Virus fatalities mostly elderly patients with underlying diseases

People wearing face masks to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus in Seoul, Monday, March 2, 2020. APMost victims of the novel coronavirus quickly spreading across South Korea were elderly people with preexisting health issues and special care is necessary to reduce further virus-related fatalities, health authorities here said Tuesday.Some 599 new cases of COVID-19 brought the nation's total number of infections here to 4,335, with 28 deaths, as of late Monday, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Six additional deaths were reported in the southeastern city of Daegu, the epicenter of virus outbreak here.The additional deaths reported on Monday were all of people in their age 60's to 80's or of those with preexisting illnesses.Four deaths occurred during treatment at hospitals in Daegu or surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, officials said. Further investigation is under way into the country's 27th and 28th deaths. KCDC data showed that the mortality rate of virus patients aged 80 or more was 3.7 percent, compared with an average mortality ra

Mar 3, 2020
Virus fatalities mostly elderly patients with underlying diseases
  • Korean airports begin coronavirus screenings on US-bound travelers
  • Korea reports 600 new virus cases, total now at 4,812
  • Moon declares 'war' against coronavirus, puts gov't on 24-hour alert

Gov't plans to distribute masks through convenience stores

People wait in line outside a post office in Namyangjoo, Gyeonggi Province, to buy masks, Monday. /YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong The government is planning to use convenience stores to sell protective masks ― which are in high demand amid the new coronavirus outbreak.While a detailed plan was not available Monday, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said a continued shortage of masks despite government intervention had moved it to consider utilizing convenience stores.On Feb. 26, the government announced the decision to have mask producers distribute their masks to 2,200 of Nonghyup Bank's Hanaro Marts, 1,406 post offices and 24,000 pharmacies across the country for just under 1,000 won per mask. Pharmacies receiving the masks are located in big cities such as Seoul, while the Hanaro Marts and post offices are in Daegu, Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province and other small counties in other parts of the country. The daily production capacity of Korea's local mask manufacturers is 13 million.Despite these initiatives, a mask shortage continued over the weekend as deliveries were delayed for

Mar 2, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Shincheonji head apologizes for group's role in coronavirus outbreak

Shincheonji Church Founder Lee Man-hee bows on his knees to apologize during a press conference at a church facility in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday./ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulNo. of patients reach 4,335, with 26 deathsBy Kim Se-jeongThe head of the Shincheonji Church apologized Monday for causing “grave concerns” to public health as the religious group's members account for nearly 60 percent of confirmed coronavirus patients in Korea.In a rare press conference, Shincheonji founder Lee Man-hee said, “As the founder of the church, I apologize for what is happening. We didn't mean to create this mess, but a large number of patients are members of my church or those who came into contact with them.”“I did what I could do, but couldn't stop it all from spreading. I seek the forgiveness of citizens,” he said before stepping aside from a dais and bowing while kneeling down.“The government has done its utmost to prevent the virus from spreading from the Shincheonji Church in Daegu. We are fully cooperating to help it and will contin

Mar 2, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Shincheonji head apologizes for group's role in coronavirus outbreak

Medical staff suffers extreme fatigue as outbreak continues

Medical staff fighting the COVID-19 outbreak at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu go to a staff lounge to rest after finishing work Monday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeDoctors, nurses and other medical professionals here are complaining about fatigue and exhaustion as the number of coronavirus patients continues to increase in Daegu and other parts of the country, according to officials from local governments and hospitals Monday.Acute fatigue has led some nurses to quit en masse, causing shortages in Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, which the new coronavirus has hit hardest.Korea has reported thousands of infected patients, of whom more than 80 percent have come from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.Pohang Medical Center in North Gyeongsang Province ― which the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated as a hospital to handle exclusively coronavirus patients ― is grappling with a shortage of medical personnel after 16 of about 100 nurses quit last week. The 16 nurses cited overwork, in addition to personal reasons such as the need to t

Mar 2, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Medical staff suffers extreme fatigue as outbreak continues
  • S. Korea revamps coronavirus countermeasures as patients die unattended
  • 123 more coronavirus cases in South Korea, total at 4,335
  • Marks for heroes: sore marks on the face of health workers

Marks for heroes: sore marks on the face of health workers

An exhausted medical staff member at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu shows marks from her mask, Friday. / YonhapA medical staff member wears a protective suit at Ulsan University Hospital, Tuesday. / YonhapA medical staff member at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu uses her protective gown to shelter from the rain, Friday. / YonhapMedical workers on the frontline wear protective gowns at Ulsan University Hospital, Tuesday. / Yonhap

Mar 2, 2020
Marks for heroes: sore marks on the face of health workers
  • Medical staff suffers extreme fatigue as outbreak continues

How COVID-19 affects daily lives of Koreans

Myeong-dong, a popular shopping district in Seoul for both Koreans and non-Koreans, remains virtually empty, Saturday, due to fears of community infections of the novel coronavirus. / YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe soaring number of COVID-19 infections has drastically changed the daily lives of both Koreans and non-Koreans here, a survey showed Monday.The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) conducted an online survey for four days from Feb. 24, on changes to daily life due to the contagious virus outbreak. The survey found more people are tending to stay indoors to avoid using public facilities and staying away from public areas where many people gather. The survey involved 204 Koreans as well as 175 foreigners who have visited or are staying in Korea. When multiple answers were allowed, 78.29 percent of Koreans and 69.61 percent of foreigners said their working environment had changed the most after the outbreak of the epidemic. More attention to hygiene including wearing masks and using hand sanitizers followed with 68.14 percent of Koreans and 69.14 percent of foreigners. When ask

Mar 2, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
How COVID-19 affects daily lives of Koreans

Shincheonji leader to hold press conference

Lee Man-hee, founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.Shincheonji Church of Jesus said Monday its founder Lee Man-hee will hold a press conference at the church's training center in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, at 3 p.m. “Lee will take part in the press conference,” Shincheonji in a statement. The venue is in the basement of the Palace of Peace, the training center. Shincheonji ― an offshoot of Christianity ― is at the center of a rapid increase in coronavirus cases in South Korea. Nearly 60 percent of domestic infections (4,212 cases as of Monday noon) are linked to Shincheonji. Lee is the target of a criminal investigation. The prosecution is investigating him at the request of Seoul City, which claims the religious leader is responsible for his followers not cooperating with the government's nationwide fight against coronavirus. Lee has tested negative for the virus, according to Shincheonji.

Mar 2, 2020
Shincheonji leader to hold press conference
  • Shincheonji founder under criminal investigation

Prison reports first coronavirus infection among inmates

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea has reported its first coronavirus infection among prisoners.According to the Ministry of Justice Sunday, an inmate, 60, at Gimcheon Prison in North Gyeongsang Province tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 27.It is unclear how he caught the virus after being confined there on Jan. 21.Health officials conducted virus tests on 20 prison guards and 12 inmates, who had been in close contact with him. The results are expected to come out in three days, the ministry said.The inmate appeared to be healthy before starting to show symptoms of the virus, including fever, on Feb. 27, guards said.Gimcheon Prison will disinfect all facilities.

Mar 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Prison reports first coronavirus infection among inmates
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