SouthKorea

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  ​Improved personal hygiene prompted by COVID-19 lowers number of common cold patients SEOUL -- A COVID-19 pandemic that prompted people to improve their personal hygiene habits such as wearing masks and sanitizing hands has eventually lowered the number of patients visiting clinics for the treatment of a common cold. According to UBCARE, a digital healthcare company, the number of common cold-related prescriptions issued by clinics and hospitals has decreased by 71 percent in April compared to the same period last year. The company used its medical 2020-05-26
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  Young man becomes first to get jail sentence for violating quarantine rules SEOUL -- A 27-year-old man was sentenced to four months in prison, becoming the first person to receive a jail term in South Korea for violating rules on obligatory quarantine imposed by health authorities to monitor health conditions after he contacted or stayed close to COVID-19 patients at a hospital. The man identified by his surname Kim was punished under a new infectious disease control law which was strengthened on April 5. 2020-05-26
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  QR code electronic registration adopted in S. Korea to trace dance club visitors SEOUL -- For a quick epidemiological investigation by South Korean health officials into the origin of COVID-19 infection, visitors to dance clubs and singing rooms that have a high risk of infection will have to register their identity using a QR code-based smartphone verification system. From June 1, the electronic visitor registration system will be compulsory for high-risk facilities such as dance clubs, Hunting Pocha, and singin 2020-05-25
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  Health officials urge young people to refrain from visiting dance clubs and bars SEOUL -- South Korea's top health official made an ardent appeal to young people, saying they should refrain from visiting dance clubs, bars and singing rooms as a COVID-19 outbreak that began in a shopping and entertainment district in Seoul continue to cause incessant community infections. The national epidemic control tower reported 20 new infections on May 21. The death toll remained unchanged at 264 and 716 patients are under treatment at designated hospitals. 2020-05-22
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  President Moon's initiative to nurture telemedicine triggers backlash from doctors SEOUL -- A coronavirus pandemic rekindled debate over the introduction of telehealth in South Korea well known for its ultra-fast mobile telecom network that opened a connected society, on a new initiative by President Moon Jae-in to nurture "untact" medical services as a new growth engine in the post-COVID-19 era. Moon has praised the medical community for helping South Korea earn global recognition as a model country in quarantine, suggesting that South 2020-05-20
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  New app available for medical staff to receive correct information about COVID-19 SEOUL -- A smartphone app has been developed in a state project to provide accurate and verified information about a novel coronavirus to doctors and other medical personnel who have been deluged with lots of unfiltered or misguided data every day at the front line. Medical staff can download the so-called "Disaster Med Info" app from May 18 to receive up-to-date information about COVID-19 as well as the latest medical journals and educational data, said the 2020-05-18
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  Xi affirms determination to visit S. Korea this year during phone talks with Moon: Yonhap SEOUL -- Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that he remains firmly committed to a plan to visit South Korea within this year, speaking on the phone with President Moon Jae-in. Moon replied that Xi's trip here is "more important than any other thing" in Seoul-Beijing relations, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. They agreed to continue consultations so that the visit can be made "at an appropriate time" as soon as coron 2020-05-14
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  Some 1,200 foreigners under pressure to get tested for COVID-19 Health officials disinfect a club in Itaewon in Seoul. SEOUL -- Some 1,200 foreigners are under pressure to get tested for COVID-19 because their mobile phones showed traces of staying in a dangerous place encompassing the epicenter of LGBTQ nightlife in an international tourist hotspot in Seoul. They are receiving English text messages repeatedly from South Korea's anti-epidemic center. Since the first patient related to LGBTQ clubs and bars in Itaewon was mad 2020-05-13
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  COVID-19 outbreak in LGBTQ community reveals blind spot of social distancing SEOUL -- Health officials saw a spike in coronavirus infections originating from a place frequented by sexual minorities as a forgone incident that probably exposed the blind spot of social distancing in South Korea's anti-epidemic fight lauded and benchmarked by other countries. After an initial epidemiological investigation into a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the epicenter of LGBTQ nightlife in Itaewon, an international tourist 2020-05-12
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  ​Seoul issues binding order for rush hour subway passengers to wear masks SEOUL -- In an effort to prevent the second wave of a novel coronavirus pandemic, any rush-hour commuters who do not wear masks will be banned from boarding subway trains in Seoul. Emergency masks are available at subway station kiosks. The order would take effect on May 13. The Seoul city government urged citizens to avoid using public transport during busy commuting hours to lower the possibility of contamination, and those with underlying diseases to refrain from us 2020-05-11
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  Police trace thousands of gay bar visitors for virus inspection SEOUL -- South Korean police are tracing more than 3,000 people who went into hiding for fear of public humiliation after visiting gay clubs as the number of COVID-19 patients related to the epicenter of gay nightlife in Seoul rose to 86, sparking a feeling of strain and hurry among health officials. The police agency in Seoul said that it would deploy a quick response team to check the identity and whereabouts of thousands of people who have visited gay clubs in Itaew 2020-05-11
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  President Moon urges S. Korea to brace for second wave of COVID-19 epidemic President Moon Jae-in makes a speech during an event marking his third year of the inauguration on May 10. SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in urged South Korea to brace for the second wave of a coronavirus epidemic as a new outbreak originating from gay clubs spread, leaving more than 50 people infected and threatening to dampen efforts to surmount a national crisis by setting a global standard in the prevention of COVID-19. The fresh outbreak in the epicenter of gay nig 2020-05-10
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  President Moon presents S. Korea's post-pandemic goal to lead global industrial map Citizens watch President Moon Jae-in making a televised address at the lobby of a railway station in Seoul on May 10. SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in presented a new national goal to establish his country as a leader in the process of reorganizing the post-pandemic global order, saying that South Korea has a golden opportunity to become a world factory of high-tech industries and change the global industrial map. As South Korea has become the safest and most transpa 2020-05-10
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  Gay club infections spark panic and anxiety in sexual minority community SEOUL -- South Korea's sexual minority community was gripped with a sense of panic and anxiety after a 29-year-old man infected with a new coronavirus made a free-wheeling overnight trip through gay bars and dance clubs in the epicenter of gay nightlife not far away from downtown Seoul, triggering a cluster of infections. On May 8, health officials reported 15 new COVID-19 cases, including three foreigners and an army staff sergeant, related to the man who had visi 2020-05-08
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  S. Korea allows mask exports, sees sharp increase in diagnostic kit shipment A file picture shows South Korean diagnostic kits and equipment stored at an airport in Madagascar. SEOUL -- Helped by growing popularity abroad, exports of South Korean diagnostic kits to sort out patients infected with a novel coronavirus soared to $201.2 million in April from $24.1 million a month ago. Demand is expected to remain strong as many countries have yet to contain a pandemic. South Korea has been swamped with urgent requests for diagnostic reagents 2020-05-07
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  Air conditioning becomes new source of concern at classrooms SEOUL -- Contamination through air conditioning has become a new source of concern among health officials as South Korea eased social distancing guidelines to permit greater social and economic activities than before, with millions of students ready to go back to school campuses gradually. Health officials and experts are working on guidelines on the use of air conditioning, especially at schools. High school seniors and students at small elementary and middle schools 2020-05-06
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  Researchers confirm meaningful outcome in coronavirus vaccine testing on primates SEOUL -- In vaccine testing on monkeys, a state-commissioned research consortium in South Korea claimed to have confirmed the generation of antibodies that can neutralize a novel coronavirus. The consortium will push ahead with clinical trials on humans in June after acquiring quick approval from a state watchdog. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened a huge market for vaccines, diagnostic kits and medication. South Korea has launched a research consortium involving Genexin 2020-05-06
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  Schools reopen this month based on confidence in quarantine SEOUL -- In a bold attempt based on confidence in its quarantine system that has been praised and benchmarked abroad, more than six million students, teachers and support personnel will go back to school campuses gradually from May 13 as South Korea eases social distancing guidelines this week to permit greater social and economic activities than before. High school seniors and students at small elementary and middle schools in remote areas such as islands will return 2020-05-04
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  Health officials find no virus in first full-fledged sample pooling SEOUL -- A novel coronavirus has not been detected in South Korea's first full-fledged "sample pooling," a quick diagnostic method of preventing herd infections at vulnerable places, which was conducted at nursing hospitals in the metropolitan area. The examination of 6,544 samples collected from 46 nursing hospitals in Seoul and its surrounding province was conducted from Mary 17 to April 27, according to the Korea Ce 2020-05-04
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  Pandemic boosts sales of ready-to-cook meal kits SEOUL -- A coronavirus epidemic has boosted sales of ready-to-cook meal kits, which are easily found at convenience stores, as many people dine in their homes due to social distancing, according to a South Korean convenience store chain. Ready-to-cook meal kits in forms of stew, soup or stir-fried vegetables and meat dishes are favored by single-person households for the simplicity of cooking. The meal kits can be cooked immediately using a stove or microwave oven 2020-05-04