South Korean government said the country might see a slowing trend in the spread of the novel coronavirus as it reported 367 new cases of coronavirus infections Sunday, the lowest daily increase in more than 10 days. 　 Health authorities, however, were cautious about the slowing trend, saying it was too early to say the situation has got better and new clusters of infections could still emerge. 　 The total reported cases here stood at 7,313 on Sunday afternoon -- with 179 more cases since mid

Social Affairs March 8, 2020

South Korea’s reported coronavirus cases mounted to 6,284 with total deaths at 42 on Friday, amid growing concerns over the emerging new clusters of infections. 　 The latest mass transmission cases were reported at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. It was closed after nine people were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. In the country of Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province, 51 people at a nursing home, or 44 percent of staff members and inpatients, tested posit

Social Affairs March 6, 2020

South Korea is to greet the warmest day of this year -- so far -- on Sunday, with daytime high temperatures in Seoul forecast to reach 17 degrees Celsius. Warm temperatures are expected in most parts of the country this weekend, due to wind blowing from the southeast and migratory high-pressure systems, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. On Saturday, the daily low is expected to hover around minus 3 C to 6 C, with temperatures during the day expected to be as high as 14 C

Social Affairs March 6, 2020

South Korea’s reported coronavirus cases rose by 518 to 6,284 with a total of 42 deaths Friday, amid growing concerns over the emerging new clusters of infections. Of the new cases, 367 (70.8 percent) were confirmed in the southeastern city of Daegu at the heart of the country’s virus outbreak, and 123 (23.7 percent) in North Gyeongsang Province, according to data tallied at Thursday midnight by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ten new cases were reported in

Social Affairs March 6, 2020

South Korea’s coronavirus cases surged past 6,000 with 41 deaths Thursday, as the government shifted its focus to minor clusters of coronavirus infections, so far overshadowed by the massive number related to Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Nearly 70 percent of Korea’s coronavirus cases are classified as cluster infection cases, while 30.6 percent are sporadic with their exact infection routes being scrutinized, health authorities said. The latest mass transmission cases were found

Social Affairs March 5, 2020

South Korea is shifting its focus to minor clusters of coronavirus infections, so far overshadowed by the massive number of cases related to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, as the number of cases is increasing at a slower pace.  Nearly 70 percent of Korea’s coronavirus cases are classified as cluster infection cases, while 30.6 percent are sporadic with their exact infection routes being scrutinized, health authorities said Thursday. The latest mass transmission cases were found in a

Social Affairs March 5, 2020

Customers were scarce and business was slow at a grocery store in central Seoul on Wednesday, as it has been since the coronavirus outbreak. In one corner, a group appeared unfittingly enthusiastic, surrounding a clerk and bombarding the person with inquiries. 　 Among them were 80-year-old Kim Hoon (not his real name) and his wife. He said he had come to buy face masks, considered essential here as a precaution against the novel coronavirus. 　 “We waited in line for two hours,” sai

Social Affairs March 5, 2020

South Korea reported 438 new cases of the coronavirus and 3 more deaths on Thursday, bringing the nation’s total infections to 5,766 and death toll to 35, according to health authorities. Of the new cases, 320 cases (73 percent) were confirmed in the southeastern city of Daegu at the heart of the country’s virus outbreak, and 87 cases (19 percent) in North Gyeongsang Province. Nine new cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province and South Gyeongsang Province, respectively, four each

Social Affairs March 5, 2020

South Korean authorities said Tuesday that the probability of those infected with the novel coronavirus dying is 0.6 percent here, as the government battles community spread of the deadly virus in Daegu. 　 The country reported 851 more cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 5,186. The death toll has risen to 29, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 　 To prevent further fatalities, health authorities said they will prioritize testing for &ldq

Social Affairs March 3, 2020

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea has surged to 4,812, with 28 deaths reported so far, as the government struggles to prevent further fatalities amid hospital overcrowding. The country reported 600 more cases and six additional deaths as of midnight Monday, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the new cases, 519 were confirmed in Daegu (86.5 percent), 61 in North Gyeongsang Province (10 percent), 7 in Seoul 1.6 percent), 3 in South Chungcheong Prov

Social Affairs March 3, 2020

  The leader of a minor South Korean Christian sect linked to more than half of the country’s coronavirus cases apologized to the public Monday for the spread of the virus, which has sickened more than 4,300 people and killed at least 26. 　 Korea reported 599 more cases, bringing the total infections to 4,335. A total of 26 people have died from the virus infection, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 　 Faced with an aggravating hospital shortage and to

Social Affairs March 2, 2020

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea surpassed 4,200 on Monday, with 22 deaths so far. Eight out of 10 cases were reported in Daegu, the city at the center of the outbreak. 　 The country reported 476 more cases and four additional deaths as of Monday at 12:01 a.m., compared with 4 p.m. Sunday, pushing up the total number of infections to 4,212, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 　 Of the new cases, 377 were reported in Daegu, 68 in North Gyeongsang Provin

Social Affairs March 2, 2020

South Korea is focusing its efforts on detecting possible coronavirus infections among followers of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, as 6 in 10 cases have been linked to the secretive Christian sect. 　 Some of the sect’s members had visited Wuhan in China’s Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, in January, Kwon Jun-wook, the director of the National Institute of Health said at a briefing Sunday. 　 “Through a more detailed investigation, we will identify how

Social Affairs March 1, 2020

A Korean woman who had been discharged after recovering from the novel coronavirus has tested positive for the disease again, in the country’s first such case, fueling questions over the possibility of reinfection.  A further epidemiological study is required to determine what exactly happened, but local authorities have played down the possibility that it could be a case of reinfection from someone else. Rather, the virus might have been dormant in the patient, and the illness re

Social Affairs March 1, 2020

South Korea saw the number of the novel coronavirus cases surpass 3,100 with 17 deaths on Saturday afternoon, with the coming days until early March considered a watershed for the country’s efforts to contain community spread of the deadly virus. As of Saturday afternoon, the number of infections climbed by 813 - the biggest spike in a single day since the first case was reported in late January -- to 3,150, with most cases confirmed in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, according to t

Social Affairs Feb. 29, 2020