The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, May 19, 2022 | 20:57
Health & Science
Korea gripped by 2nd wave of COVID-19 pandemic
Posted : 2020-08-27 17:05
Updated : 2020-08-27 17:05
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Residents of Guro-gu in southwestern Seoul wait to be tested for COVID-19 outside the district health center, Thursday. /Yonhap
Residents of Guro-gu in southwestern Seoul wait to be tested for COVID-19 outside the district health center, Thursday. /Yonhap

By Kim Se-jeong

Korea appears to have entered the much-feared second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reporting 441 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, the highest daily total since March.

The KCDC said 313 of the cases were in the Seoul metropolitan area where more than half of the country's population lives. The remaining 121 were reported nationwide, the first time for the figure to exceed 100 since the nation saw a triple-digit increase two weeks ago. The total number of COVID-19 cases has now reached to 18,706, with 313 fatalities so far.

The quarantine authorities said the outbreak over the last two weeks posed a bigger threat than the first one in Daegu that began in February. While most cases there were linked to one church, the recent cases in the capital have involved many smaller outbreaks with unclear transmission routes.

Officials said the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been trying to locate 51,242 people who participated in an anti-government rally Aug. 15 who now have high risk of having been infected, adding they are still trying to identify protesters using data provided by telecommunications companies.

The authorities said they had traced 639 members of the Sarang Jeil Church, a Presbyterian church based in Seoul and one of the most recent infection clusters, who attended the Aug. 15 rally, among whom 79 have tested positive for COVID-19.

More than 7,000 schools across the country remained closed to protect students from infection, and are receiving tuition online.

Meanwhile, medical experts called for the government to immediately impose tighter restrictions without delay. Kim Woo-joo, a professor from Korea University Guro Hospital, said the government should tighten social distancing measures before the healthcare system collapses. "If the government hesitates too long, a situation can arise where a complete lockdown will be necessary."

Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy, said a discussion on imposing tougher measures was underway. "We'll decide on the matter as soon as possible," Yoon said, noting that it was not an easy decision to make because the impact on people's lives, as proven in March and April, would be quite significant.

The government also urged the country's doctors to cancel a strike they initiated Wednesday, saying the action could worsen the nation's healthcare services to the point of a complete collapse.

"That doctors go on strike now is equivalent to soldiers leaving the battlefield during the war. The collective action by doctors is causing fear and inconvenience for citizens," President Moon Jae-in said Thursday.

On Wednesday, the government issued an administrative order for 358 doctors to return to work, threatening non-compliance would result in fines or the temporary suspension of their medical licenses. The government also filed a complaint against the Korea Medical Association with the Fair Trade Commission for encouraging doctors to join the strike.


Emailskim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]
  • Kim says Chinese permanent residents should be stripped of right to vote in Korea
  • Anti-LGBTQ sentiment widespread in Korea: survey
  • South Korea to join US-led Indo-Pacific economic initiative
  • CJ, Ottogi uneasy about Harim's tactics to sell new cooked rice
  • Protecting Korea's semiconductor leadership
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon's efforts to bolster Korea-US alliance will inevitably disturb China
  • North Korea asks China, Russia for help amid COVID crisis: reports
  • Luna debacle casts ripple effect over Korean stocks
  • Fear of deadliest famine in 1990s haunts North Korea amid national lockdown
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up' PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up'
  • Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years
  • Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year
  • 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group