A total of 60 foreign nationals have been infected with the novel coronavirus so far in South Korea, government data showed Monday, as the country sees a growing number of cases stemming from overseas. According to data provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to The Korea Herald, the majority, or 38, of the total cases involve Chinese nationals, followed by seven from the United States. There were two cases each from Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Australia and Argen

Social Affairs March 16, 2020

The number of minors infected with the novel coronavirus in South Korea surpassed 500 on Monday, as the government mulls further delaying the opening of schools to stem the spread of the virus. 　 The government is mainly concerned that enclosed, crowded classrooms may turn into new clusters of infections, with children and students transmitting the virus to high-risk groups in local communities. 　 The Ministry of Education is widely expected to announce the decision Tuesday, and another two-w

Social Affairs March 16, 2020

South Korea is considering further delaying the opening of kindergartens and schools nationwide until early April amid lingering concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus despite signs of a slowdown in new infections. 　 The opening of kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools were pushed back for two weeks until March 23 as part of the government’s efforts to stem the spread of the virus as the country saw hundreds of new COVID-19 cases in February. 　 　 The Ministry of Educa

Social Affairs March 15, 2020

Eight in 10 coronavirus cases in South Korea have been linked to cluster infections, health authorities said Saturday, as the recent trend of spread shows a continued slowdown. Despite the slowdown in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the areas hit hardest by the virus outbreak here, authorities are grappling with the new clusters including a call center in southwestern Seoul and the administrative city of Sejong. Korea reported 107 new cases Saturday, bringing the number of infections to

Social Affairs March 14, 2020

South Korea continued to see a slowdown in the pace of the novel coronavirus spread for the third consecutive day, with the total number of infections coming in at 8,086 Saturday morning, up from 107 from the same time a day earlier. Saturday marks the third day in a row that the daily new infection tally has decreased, but authorities are on high alert as the government grapples with new clusters of infections, including a call center in Seoul’s Guro District and the country’s g

Social Affairs March 14, 2020

The top diplomats of South Korea and Norway have discussed efforts to fight the novel coronavirus, the foreign ministry here said Saturday. During the telephone talks with her Norwegian counterpart, Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stressed her country's far-reaching quarantine and disinfection efforts to contain the local spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said. Kang also asked for the Norwegian government's cooperation in allowing necessary

Foreign Affairs March 14, 2020

South Korea continued to see a slowdown in the pace of the novel coronavirus spread for the third consecutive day, with the total number of infections coming in at 8,086 Saturday morning, up from 107 from the same time a day earlier. 　 A total of 204 people were released from isolation Friday, nearly double the number of those newly infected with the virus. The number of those deemed clear of the virus is 714. 　 Five more people died of COVID-19 on Friday, raising the death toll to 72, accord

Social Affairs March 14, 2020

South Korea said Thursday that those arriving in the country after visiting five European countries, including Germany, will face stepped-up quarantine requirements starting next week, as the government grapples with the largest-yet cluster infections of novel coronavirus in the capital. 　 South Korea’s coronavirus cases climbed by 114 to 7,869 as of midnight Wednesday, the lowest daily increase in nearly three weeks, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Preven

Social Affairs March 12, 2020

South Korea’s coronavirus cases climbed by 114 to 7,869 in the past 24 hours on Thursday, the lowest daily increase in nearly three weeks, as health authorities grapple with mass cluster infection cases in the country’s capital and surrounding cities. Six more people died Wednesday, bringing Korea’s death toll to 66, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 114 new cases across the country, 19 new cases were reported in Seoul and

Social Affairs March 12, 2020

The South Korean government plans to enforce guidelines for densely populated workplaces, stung by mass coronavirus infections at a call center in Seoul. 　 At least 90 people, including 77 employees at a call center in Guro-gu and 13 people who came into contact with them, tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday afternoon, making it the biggest cluster of infections in Seoul that is home to 9.7 million people. 　 The country’s coronavirus cases as of midnight Tuesday came in at 7,755

Social Affairs March 11, 2020

South Korea reported 242 novel coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 7,755 on Wednesday, as health authorities grapple with mass cluster infection cases in the country’s capital. Six more people died Tuesday, bringing Korea’s death toll to 60, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 242 new cases across the country, 52 new cases were reported in Seoul, with 12 each in Incheon and in Gyeonggi P

Social Affairs March 11, 2020

Seoul’s biggest-yet cluster of infections emerged Tuesday, keeping South Korea’s health authorities on their toes despite the number of newly discovered infections across the country slowing for the fourth consecutive day. 　 The nationwide total of reported coronavirus cases rose by 131 to 7,513 with 54 deaths, marking the lowest daily increase in two weeks, according to data tallied Monday at midnight by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 　 The new cluster in S

Social Affairs March 10, 2020

South Korea’s reported coronavirus cases rose by 131 to 7,513 with a total of 54 deaths Tuesday, marking the lowest daily increase in two weeks -- falling for the fourth consecutive day.  　 Despite the slowing pace of daily increase of confirmed cases, small-scale clusters of infections continue to emerge in the country’s most populated areas -- Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, keeping health authorities on their toes. 　 The latest mass infections were reported at a call center in

Social Affairs March 10, 2020

The novel coronavirus was apparently brought into the country from Wuhan, China. But it was a branch of an enigmatic Christian sect in Daegu that provided it with a breeding ground at home. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which operates under a veil of secrecy, abruptly came to the center of attention after one of its congregants tested positive for the virus Feb. 18. The case of the 61-year-old woman, known as COVID-19 patient No. 31, was linked to many others among followers who attended

Social Affairs March 9, 2020

Forty-six residents of an apartment complex in Daegu, the city at the center of South Korea’s novel coronavirus outbreak, were confirmed to have contracted the virus. 　 All 46 confirmed patients from the apartment block were followers of a fringe religious sect and were admitted to hospitals or community treatment centers for quarantine, according to the Daegu Metropolitan Government. 　 Daegu authorities faced criticism for their failure to detect early signs of epidemiological links to

Social Affairs March 8, 2020