SouthKorea

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  Doctors association wants enhanced social distancing to prevent infections in large cities SEOUL -- An association of doctors urged South Korea's state anti-epidemic center to enhance social distancing and conduct regular public antibody tests as gene sequencing showed that most recent infections were caused by a highly propagative strain of the new coronavirus reported in Europe, Africa and other regions. South Korea eased strict social distancing in early May after achieving a certain degree of success in its battle to contain a COVID-19 epidemic, bu 2020-07-06
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  Man receives suspended jail sentence for peeping into random IP camera footage SEOUL -- A 39-year-old man was given a suspended jail sentence on charges of breaching into internet protocol cameras, peeping into private lives and recording videos that showed women's bodies or people having sex. A court in the southern port city of Busan sentenced the man to 12 months in jail with a stay of execution for three years, ruling he was found guilty of violating a related law. He was accused of breaching into 2,381 internet protocol (IP) cameras 2020-07-01
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  Antiviral drug remdesivir available in S. Korea to treat COVID-19 patients SEOUL -- Remdesivir, an antiviral medication approved in South Korea as a specific treatment for COVID-19, is now available for critically ill patients under a supply contract with Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company. From July 1, the drug will be released to hospitals through the state-run National Medical Center. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) authorized remdesivir following the positive assessment of clinical trials 2020-07-01
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  Doctors regard remote patient management system as effective in COVID-19 treatment SEOUL -- A new coronavirus pandemic forced an inevitable shift in medical paradigm, prompting hospitals to establish an operating system that actively utilizes information and communications technology, a medical research team in South Korea said, based on field experience in applying a remote patient management system for the treatment of COVID-19 patients isolated at a state-designated temporary healthcare center. "COVID-19 is changing the existing medical 2020-06-30
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  Seoul City to release food delivery app with lower commission SEOUL -- Seoul City will release its own food delivery app to meet demands from customers and restaurant owners who have called for low commission fees. The app will hit the market as early as September. South Korea's thriving food delivery service market led by Baedal Minjok, a food delivery service app operated by Woowa Brothers, faced unexpected criticism in April this year when the delivery giant tried to make changes to commission from a monthly flat sub 2020-06-25
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  Three rapid diagnostic kits approved in S. Korea for emergency use SEOUL -- In response to growing calls from emergency room medical staff, South Korea's state public health agency has approved three rapid diagnostic kits capable of detecting a new coronavirus in less than an hour for the treatment of ordinary patients who require urgent surgery or delivery. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method that amplifies specific DNA samples and takes at least six hours to get results has been approved and used widely 2020-06-24
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  Researchers regard feces as promising and reliable source for detecting COVID-19 infection SEOUL -- A medical research team in South Korea recommended proper handwashing when changing diapers in infants and adequate hygiene measures in restrooms after a study of children infected with a new coronavirus showed that a high concentration of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected for three weeks in fecal samples. Viral RNA was detectable at high concentration for three weeks in fecal samples from 12 mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic children with COVID- 2020-06-24
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  S. Korea advises not to wear COVID-19 masks while social distancing outdoors to prevent heatstroke SEOUL -- South Korea's disease control headquarters has advised people not to wear masks if they are keeping a social distance of two meters (6.5 feet) in outdoor environments in order to prevent heat-related illnesses. "If keeping a social distance of two meters is possible, we advise people not to wear a mask," Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Director Jeong Eun-Kyeong told reporters during a regular briefing on Monday. The KCD 2020-06-22
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  Incheon City opens dog care centers for COVID-19 patients SEOUL -- The western port city of Incheon has opened dog care centers for COVID-19 patients who have to enter hospitals or temporary "life-care" community treatment centers for treatment that would require several weeks of parting. Incheon said that it became the first city in South Korea to open 10 dog care centers when their masters infected with a new coronavirus stay away for treatment. COVID-19 patients can request local community health cent 2020-06-19
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  Temporary treatment centers in Seoul area to cope with growing number of COVID-19 patients SEOUL -- To cope with a growing number of patients infected with a new coronavirus in Seoul and its surrounding province, South Korea will increase the number of state-designated community treatment centers that serve as temporary hospitals for COVID-19 patients showing minor symptoms. To prevent a long queue in patients waiting for beds at isolation wards, patients have been divided into two groups. Critical patients have been treated at negative pressure w 2020-06-19
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  COVID-19 runs ahead in cat-and-mouse game with quarantine authorities: official SEOUL -- COVID-19 is always running ahead in a desperate cat-and-mouse game with quarantine officials, making it difficult to preclude cross-contamination by confirmed virus carriers in crowded urban areas, a top health official said. South Korea eased strict social distancing in early May after achieving a certain degree of success in its battle to contain a COVID-19 epidemic, but the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has struggled with dozens of 2020-06-10
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  Busan city buses introduce high-efficiency particulate air filters SEOUL -- Citizens in South Korea's southern port city of Busan feel safe without worrying much about droplet infection caused by coughing and sneezing when they use transit buses. Wearing masks is compulsory aboard intra-city buses installed with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. Busan with a population of 3.4 million is the first South Korean city to introduce HEPA-class filers for city buses. Masks also prevent droplet infection but HEPA filters 2020-06-09
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  12 krill oil products taken off shelf for containing harmful substances SEOUL -- South Korea's public health watchdog will check the safety of imported raw materials for krill oil after finding that some products sold in the domestic market contained banned substances or an excessive level of solvents. The watchdog urged consumers not to be deceived by false or hyped advertising that krill oil enhances immunity. Krill oil, which is an extract prepared from a species of Antarctic krill, contains omega-3 fatty acids which are thought to 2020-06-09
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  Consumers spend 60% of relief money on food-related items SEOUL -- Some 60 percent of the one-off payment of relief money to all households, which have seen their income shrinking due to the reduction of economic activity since a new coronavirus epidemic hit South Korea in January, was spent on purchasing food-related products, eating out or ordering food for delivery. South Korea started paying a total of 14.24 trillion won ($11.62 billion) in emergency disaster relief money to 21.7 million households from May 11. One person 2020-06-03
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  Incheon port city to operate free drive-in theater for moviegoers SEOUL -- In an effort to relieve social stress, the western port city of Incheon has arranged special treatment for moviegoers who cannot go to theaters because of social distancing that has discourages people from visiting multi-use facilities to avoid the infection of COVID-19. Incheon said in a statement on Wednesday that it would hold free weekend drive-in theater events from June 6 through October 30 to screen popular Holywood films such as "Schoo 2020-06-03
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  Health officials classify two suspected MIS-C cases as Kawasaki disease SEOUL -- South Korean health officials officially classified two children, who were treated for showing the suspected pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome, as Kawasaki cases, not related to COVID-19. Still, experts cannot give a clear explanation due to the lack of scientific data. Based on initial diagnosis by medical experts, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) concluded that the two children, including an 11-year-old boy and a four-ye 2020-06-03
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  S. Korea unveils roadmap for COVID-19 drugs and treatment SEOUL -- South Korea unveiled a roadmap for the treatment of COVID-19 to develop plasma treatment by the year's end as well as antibody treatment and vaccines next year through active clinical research with an injection of some 100 billion won ($82 million) in the second half of this year. The government aims to develop a vaccine in the second half of next year. Researchers are testing one vaccine for synthetic antigen using protein and two vaccines using DNA. & 2020-06-03
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  Strengthened anti-epidemic measures taken in metropolitan area SEOUL -- Alarmed by a quick spike in the number of coronavirus patients in a cluster infection at a logistics center run by Coupang, a major online shopping operator, South Korea announced a two-week period of strengthened anti-epidemic measures and social distancing in the densely populated metropolitan area to prevent a new wave of COVID-19. Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said that the government will strengthen quarantine control in all sectors of the Se 2020-05-28
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  Eco-friendly buoys recommended to replace styrofoam for aquaculture SEOUL -- As part of a campaign to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean, styrofoam buoys used widely for aquaculture in South Korea will be replaced with eco-friendly or biodegradable ones by 2025 as foamed polystyrene pollution raised significant concerns relating to environmental and human health. There is growing concern over plastic debris and their fragments as a carrier for hazardous substances in the marine ecosystem. Foamed polystyrene is often used in aqua 2020-05-28
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  Two children recovering well from multi-system inflammatory syndrome SEOUL -- Two children hospitalized for showing pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome for the first time in South Korea are recovering well from their disease, with an 11-year-old boy already discharged after treatment. A four-year-old girl is still under treatment, but health officials are optimistic about her recovery. Cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been reported in the U.S. and Europe. The inflammatory response shar 2020-05-27