SouthKorea

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  [Coronavirus] Prime minister ends two-week field battle against epidemic SEOUL -- South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will come back home after ending a grueling two-week field battle to contain a new coronavirus epidemic as the number of new cases decreased to a stable level in the southeastern city of Daegu. Chung is to return to Seoul on Monday, his office said. He arrived in Daegu on February 25 to spearhead a fight against COVID-19. Health officials reported 248 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 7,3 2020-03-09
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  [Coronavirus] Infant born by woman infected with virus shows no symptoms SEOUL -- An infant born by a woman infected with a novel coronavirus was found to be safe and carried no virus in a diagnostic test. South Korean experts said the chance of an intrauterine infection from pregnant women to the fetus is extremely rare. The baby was born at Fatima Hospital on March 6 in the southeastern city of Daegu. Tests showed the newborn was negative, but the Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases cautioned that respiratory virus infections 2020-03-09
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  [Coronavirus] Daegu mayor rejects cash donation from Shincheonji religious group SEOUL -- The mayor of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's coronavirus epidemic, refused to accept a cash donation from Shincheonj Church of Jesus, accusing some followers of the religious group of dragging their feet or ignoring quarantine guidelines despite repeated calls for cooperation. "What Shincheonji needs to do now is not to pay the money but to actively cooperate with quarantine," Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said on Friday, adding he w 2020-03-06
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  [Coronavirus] Free OTT service proposed for quarantined people SEOUL -- A free one-month over-the-top (OTT) service was proposed to relieve the mental stress of people who have isolated themselves at homes and special facilities for obligatory self-quarantine as suspected or confirmed patients infected with a novel coronavirus. Vice health minister Kim Kang-lip told a regular briefing on Friday that the government is cooperating with Watcha, an OTT video-on-demand service operator, to provide free subscription service. He sa 2020-03-06
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  [Coronavirus] Virus prompts libraries to adopt drive-thru book rental service People are being tested at a drive-thru coronavirus screening clinic in Goyang. SEOUL -- Two public libraries have prepared a special drive-thru book rental solution for book lovers who were scared to visit public libraries to read and borrow books because of a nationwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The Simin Municipal Library and the Busan Metropolitan Joongang Library in the southern port city of Busan said Friday that they will start the oper 2020-03-06
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  [Coronavirus] Charity gets unexpected cash donation from Shincheonji sect Lee Man-hee, the leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, holds up his thumb after holding a press conference on March 2. SEOUL -- In an apparent bid to appease public anger, Shincheonji Church of Jesus has made a surprise cash donation of 12 billion won ($10 million) to a charity without prior consultations, saying the religious group would join a national campaign to contain a coronavirus epidemic. The donation to Community Chest of Korea, the only government-sanctione 2020-03-05
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  [Coronavirus] Singing rooms suspected of spreading virus SEOUL -- Noraebang, the South Korean version of Karaoke rooms, is not safe even if a client sings alone to avoid unnecessary contact with other people due to concerns over a coronavirus epidemic. According to an epidemiological survey team in South Gyeongsang Province on Thursday, six patients were found to have been infected with COVID-19 after they visited an unmanned singing room each in Changnyeong County some 270 kilometers (167 miles) southeast of Seou 2020-03-05
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  [Coronavirus] Public anger grows in S. Korea over rapid transmission of novel coronavirus: Survey SEOUL -- Public anger is growing in South Korea as an epidemic spread nationwide despite a government campaign to reduce the number of patients infected with a new coronavirus every day since the first case was reported on January 20, a survey showed. The survey of 1,000 people has been conducted twice on a request from a team led by You Myoung-soon, a professor at SNU Graduate School of Public Health, to figure out how the South Korean public feels about the rapid s 2020-03-04
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  [Coronavirus] Epidemic brings about unexpected changes in corporate culture SEOUL -- A raging coronavirus epidemic is bringing about unexpected changes in South Korea's corporate culture as companies, led by startups, scramble forward to prevent the shutdown of their operation by introducing telecommuting, video conferencing and a flexible or voluntary work system. Companies that quickly introduce telecommuting are large companies equipped well with telework systems. SK Telecom, a top mobile carrier in South Korea, has implemented a 2020-03-04
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea develops GPS-based app to monitor those in obligatory self-quarantine SEOUL -- In an effort to contain a coronavirus epidemic, the South Korean government has developed a dedicated app to monitor those who were ordered to go into obligatory self-quarantine for two weeks. The app utilizes a GPS function to make the alarm sound if users violate guidelines. From March 7, the app will be used in Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's COVID-19 epidemic, and North Gyeongsang Province. Some 27,700 people were put into self-quarantine, bu 2020-03-04
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  [Coronavirus] Two experimental anti-viral drugs to be tested as possible coronavirus treatments SEOUL -- Two experimental anti-viral drugs will be tested to see if they are good for the treatment of patients infected with a novel coronavirus as health officials and medical staff complained about a shortage of beds and fatigue accumulation due to a spike in the number of confirmed cases. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved clinical trials of remdesivir, an antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences, an American biotech company, and Virus Suppres 2020-03-03
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  Doomsday cult leader's watch unexpectedly sparks political controversy This file image shows a close-up upside-down image of a watch worn by Shincheonji Church of Jesus leader Lee Man-hee. SEOUL -- With eyes full of curiosity, South Koreans gazed at the shiny golden wristwatch that was wrapped around the left hand of Lee Man-hee, the founder and deified leader of Shincheonji, when he lowered himself to the ground to offer a full bow in a traditional gesture of apology over a new coronavirus epidemic. The watch shining on Lee's bare wr 2020-03-03
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  [FOCUS] Doomsday cult leader makes tumultuous appearance to apologize, makes excuses Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee walks back into a training center near his home in Cheongpyong on March 2. SEOUL -- Wearing a white face mask, Lee Man-hee, the founder and deified leader of a doomsday cult blamed for causing a spike in South Korea's coronavirus infections, made a tumultuous public appearance to apologize for fueling the spread of an epidemic with a "slow" response to a government anti-epidemic campaign. "I sincerely apologize," L 2020-03-02
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  Cult leader found to be carrying no coronavirus in weekend test SEOUL -- Lee Man-hee, the founder and deified leader of a doomsday religious organization blamed for causing a spike in South Korea's coronavirus infections, was found to be carrying no virus in a test conducted at an undisclosed place over the weekend. Lee, born in 1931, has tested negative for the virus, which has killed 22 people and left more than 4,200 infected as of early Monday, Deputy Heal and Welfare Minister Kim 2020-03-02
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea boosts mask production to address shortage People stand in a long line to buy face masks nearby a shopping mall in Seoul on February 28. SEOUL -- The South Korean government vowed to hand out five million face masks every day to tackle the shortage of products. Masks have disappeared from the shelves of supermarkets and pharmacies as the number of patients infected with a new coronavirus surged. Retailers and middlemen have been blamed for hoarding them for profit-taking. Masks used to be priced at 800 won ($0. 2020-02-28
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  [Coronavirus] Drive-through virus screening gains popularity SEOUL -- Coronavirus tests using provisional drive-through clinics are gaining popularity, prompting health authorities to set up a standard operating model so that each local government can use it in its fight to contain the raging epidemic that has rattled a country well known for an advanced medical system. Usually, it takes more than 30 minutes for screening centers at designated hospitals and public health centers equipped with test kits and devices t 2020-02-28
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  [Coronavirus] Big gospel church eases public jitters by suspending services SEOUL -- Bowing to government and public pressure, Yoido Full Gospel Church, which is South Korea's largest Pentecostal Christian congregation with a membership of 560,000, agreed to suspend indoor services, as the number of patients infected with a new coronavirus surged to more than 2,000. Yoido Full Gospel Church affiliated with the Assemblies of God said on Friday that all services would be held online. The church's main building in Seoul is capable of seat 2020-02-28
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  [Coronavirus] Clinical experts propose classification of patients for self-treatment at home SEOUL -- Clinical experts proposed the classification of patients infected with a new coronavirus so that those with minor symptoms can treat themselves at home as quarantine officials and doctors in areas hit hard by a raging epidemic showed a burnout syndrome and lack of beds due to the surging number of confirmed cases. A systematic approach is needed to lower the death rate by allowing patients with light symptoms to treat themselves at their houses, a state-commis 2020-02-27
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  Financial firms can allow employees to work from home: Yonhap SEOUL -- South Korea's financial authorities said Wednesday that financial companies can allow their ordinary employees to work from home during emergencies amid the spread of the new coronavirus. The Financial Services Commission informed the financial companies of its decision earlier this month. The move is designed to ensure financial services are not disrupted in the case of employee self-quarantine over the coronavirus known as COVID-19. The virus has kill 2020-02-26
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  [Coronavirus] Health officials investigate flight attendant's virus infection SEOUL -- Korean Air, the top flag carrier in South Korea, recommended teleworking for pregnant women and other employees working at non-face-to-face worksites after a 24-year-old female flight attendant was infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus following her overseas duty covering Los Angeles and Tel Aviv. A Korean Air flight attendant tested positive for the virus on Tuesday while staying at her home for self-quarantine, according to the Korea Ce 2020-02-26