yna--2020-02-23--(Yonhap Interview) 'Fair, transparent' process applied to India's procurement project involving S. K

(Yonhap Interview) 'Fair, transparent' process applied to India's procurement project involving S. Korea's Biho system: ambassador

`` In the case of the Biho system as well , there is very same rigorous and transparent system which @ @ @ @ @ because of the kind of requirements that make sure that there is a full scrutiny @ @ @ @ @ for any adhocism , for any allegations of any lack of transparency in the choice @ @ @ @ @ South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday .

By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- India has been "completely fair and transparent" in handling its anti-aircraft artillery system procurement project, the country's ambassador said, though the project has been delayed after a South Korean system was selected as its sole candidate.
The K-30 anti-aircraft system, named Biho, was chosen in 2018, but the project has not made much progress, as Russia, who bid unsuccessfully for the project, raised questions over the bidding process, according to industry and government sources.
"In the case of the Biho system as well, there is very same rigorous and transparent system which is being applied, and because of the kind of requirements that make sure that there is a full scrutiny, there is no scope for any adhocism, for any allegations of any lack of transparency in the choice," Indian Ambassador to South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
Asked about speculation about Russia's influence on the project, the ambassador stressed that "any third country or any third vendor cannot influence our thinking or our policy in this matter.
Sripriya Ranganathan, Indian Ambassador to South Korea, poses for photo after an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on Feb. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
Calling South Korea's K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer, which was exported to India in 2017, "a successful example" of defense industry cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador expects "many more such projects" to come over the next few years.
"Korean companies are known to have a very strong manufacturing base and a lot of strength in R&D, and India has a lot of strength in terms of software, manpower, and resources. So I think this is a beautiful match that we can make," she said.
As part of efforts to bring their bilateral ties a notch higher, South Korea and India signed their "roadmap for defense industry cooperation" earlier this month, which calls for enhanced cooperation in a wide range of defense industry fields, including research and development.
Under the initiative, India also vowed to ease regulations on and give diverse incentives to international defense firms advancing in its special zones for arms industries in accordance with its "Make In India" policy.
"Two such zones that we call defense corridors ... have been identified as being the most appropriate for creating a good defense supply ecosystem in India," Ranganathan said, adding that there have been significant investments by firms and the initial response from Korean firms has also been enthusiastic.
Speaking of security situations involving North Korea, the ambassador reaffirmed India's consistent support for peace, stability and the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, expressing confidence on diplomacy that will yield good results.
"We've pointed out that (North Korea's) pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missiles programs and its proliferation links (with Pakistan) pose a threat to not only the regional peace and stability but the whole world," she noted.
Little progress has been made in denuclearization negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea since the breakdown of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February last year in Hanoi.
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (L) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, ahead of bilateral talks in New Delhi on Feb. 4, 2020, in this photo provided by Seoul's defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--U.S. raises travel advisory for S. Korea over coronavirus outbreak

`` Many cases of COVID-19 have been associated with travel to or from mainland China or close contact with a @ @ @ @ @ community spread has been reported in South Korea , '' the State Department said in @ @ @ @ @ community spread means that people in South Korea have been infected with the virus , @ @ @ @ @ became infected is not known , and the spread is ongoing . ''

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Saturday raised its travel advisory for South Korea, urging travelers to exercise increased caution amid the spread of the new coronavirus in the country.
The State Department said its on website that the travel advisory has been raised from Level 1 to Level 2, which calls for exercising "increased caution" as opposed to "normal precautions."
Level 3 means "reconsider travel," while the highest Level 4 means "do not travel."
The measure comes after South Korea has reported 433 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, including two deaths.
"Many cases of COVID-19 have been associated with travel to or from mainland China or close contact with a travel-related case, but sustained community spread has been reported in South Korea," the State Department said in a notice. "Sustained community spread means that people in South Korea have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing."
The department said that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions, in particular, should consider postponing travel to South Korea as they may be at higher risk for severe disease.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued a Level 2 health notice for South Korea, calling for "enhanced precautions" when traveling to the country.
This AFP file photo shows the U.S. Department of State in Washington. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-02-22--(2nd LD) To contain virus, PM urges people to refrain from holding mass gatherings

The number of COVID-19 infections here has soared in the past few days , with most infections traced to a @ @ @ @ @ of Cheongdo and a church of a minor Christian sect in the southeastern city of @ @ @ @ @ 80 percent of the total infections here .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info from para 2)
SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prime minister called the fast spread of the new coronavirus in the country a "grave" situation on Saturday and urged people to refrain from attending mass gatherings.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also sternly warned against any acts that interfere with the government's quarantine efforts and spark public uneasiness, such as large outdoor rallies.
"The government judges the COVID-19 infections have entered a 'grave' situation and is doing its best to contain the spread of the virus," Chung said in a televised public message.
Apologizing to the public for the latest situation, Chung stressed the need for people's active cooperation with the government's quarantine efforts.
The prime minister made a special call for people to refrain from attending mass gatherings, including religious events in crowded places, and to devise other ways to carry them out.
South Korea reported 229 additional cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the nation to 433.
The number of COVID-19 infections here has soared in the past few days, with most infections traced to a hospital in the southeastern county of Cheongdo and a church of a minor Christian sect in the southeastern city of Daegu, which constitute some 80 percent of the total infections here.
"In accordance with law and principles, the government will sternly deal with acts that interfere with quarantine efforts, illegal hoarding of medical goods and acts that spark uneasiness through massive rallies," Chung said.
A group of Protestant followers, led by conservative pastor Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, pushed ahead with a massive rally at Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul on Saturday, despite the Seoul city government's warning.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon announced Thursday that the city government would ban the use of public plazas in central Seoul for outdoor rallies as part of drastic measures to fight the spreading coronavirus.
Chung also voiced confidence of overcoming the situation if people cooperate with and trust quarantine authorities.
"COVID-19 would have no place to hide if people informed the government about every situation as it relates to the virus," he stressed.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun issues a public message calling for people to cooperate with the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, at the government complex in Seoul, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-22--(7th LD) S. Korea's virus cases surge to 433 on church services, cluster outbreak at hospital

Despite the surge in the number of infections here , the authorities said they will maintain the virus alert at @ @ @ @ @ orange , '' level , but the virus response will be carried out with an @ @ @ @ @ red '' level .

(ATTN: UPDATES with prime minister's remarks in first 4 paras; ADDS USFK statement)
SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's confirmed cases of the new coronavirus more than doubled in a day to 433 on Saturday, led by two clusters of infections at a religious organization in Daegu and a neighboring hospital.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, in a rare public message on Saturday night, reassured people that the virus, which emerged in China, can be contained if the public cooperates with the government's instructions.
Chung apologized for recent spikes in infections and urged people to refrain from attending mass gatherings, including religious services, to prevent the virus from more widely spreading.
The number of COVID-19 infections here has soared this week, with most infections traced to the hospital in the southeastern county of Cheongdo and a minor Christian sect in the southeastern city of Daegu, which constitute some 80 percent of the total infections here.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun issues a public message calling for people to cooperate with the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, at the government complex in Seoul, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Daegu, where the 2.5 million inhabitants have been asked to stay indoors, and neighboring Cheongdo were designated as a "special management zone" on Friday.
Of the 229 new cases, 95 are related to Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, where South Korea's first coronavirus fatality occurred, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
A 63-year-old man, who died of pneumonia at the hospital on Wednesday, posthumously tested positive for the virus.
On Friday, another patient died from the coronavirus at a hospital in Busan after being transferred from Daenam Hospital, the second death from the virus in South Korea.
A public library in South Korea's second-largest city of Busan is temporarily closed on Feb. 22, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The closure came after three new virus cases were reported for the first time in Busan. (Yonhap)
The public health agency said 62 new cases are tied to the minor Christian sect known as Shincheonji in Daegu, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province and other areas.
So far, a total of 114 virus cases -- nine hospital staff and 102 patients -- have been reported from Daenam Hospital, and so-called cohort isolation, the shutdown of an entire medical institution to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, was in place for the hospital, according to the health authorities.
The health authorities said 231 virus patients have been traced to the Shincheonji church's services in Daegu, according to the KCDC.
The KCDC said it has placed a total of 9,336 Shincheonji members in self-quarantine. Among them, 544 people suspected of having contracted the virus are being tested for the virus.
The country's 31st patient, a probable "super spreader," had attended the church's worship services in Daegu, and the 61-year-old South Korean woman, who tested positive for the virus earlier this week, is believed to have infected others.
But the health authorities said earlier that it is uncertain whether the patient is the source of the cluster outbreak.
The health authorities vowed to make more containment efforts as the potentially fatal illness spreads fast across the country.
The heath ministry said it will allow hospitals to separate respiratory patients from others in an effort to prevent human-to-human transmissions and will also check all pneumonia patients in Daegu hospitals.
Disinfection work is under way at a government office in Daegu on Feb. 22, 2020, as new cases of coronavirus spiked in South Korea's fourth-largest city located about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Despite the surge in the number of infections here, the authorities said they will maintain the virus alert at the third-highest, or "orange," level, but the virus response will be carried out with an urgency appropriate to the "red" level.
"Community spread of infections began in some limited areas, and we believe that Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province are in a special situation," Vice Health and Welfare Minister Kim Kang-lip told reporters on Saturday.
In a sign that the virus may further spread nationwide, other provinces, including Jeju, Chungcheong and North Jeolla, reported cases. Gyeonggi Province also reported more new cases.
Four virus cases were reported in Busan, South Korea's second-largest city with a population of 3.4 million, the first cases in the city since the country reported the first case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20.
So far, South Korea has released 18 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals, the KCDC said.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 6,037 up from 5,481 on Saturday morning, KCDC said. The country has tested a total of 21,153 suspected cases, with 15,116 testing negative.
Most virus-infected patients are stable, but about nine patients with underlying illnesses are in relatively critical conditions, the health authorities said.
Workers erect a temporary negative-pressure quarantine room outside a hospital in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Feb. 21, 2020, to accommodate suspected coronavirus patients waiting for their test results. (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-22--(LEAD) PM urges people to refrain from holding religious events in crowded places

The number of COVID-19 infections here has soared in the past few days , with most infections traced to a @ @ @ @ @ of Cheongdo and a minor Christian sect in the southeastern city of Daegu , which @ @ @ @ @ the total infections here .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more info throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prime minister called the fast spread of the new coronavirus in the country a "grave" situation on Saturday and urged people to refrain from holding religious events in crowded places.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun issued a special public message to seek the people's cooperation with the government's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Chung urged people to refrain from holding religious events in crowded places and to devise other ways to carry them out.
"In accordance with law and principles, the government will sternly deal with acts that interfere with quarantine efforts, illegal hoarding of medical goods and acts that spark uneasiness through massive rallies," Chung said in the nationally televised message.
The message came as South Korea reported 229 additional cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the nation to 433.
The number of COVID-19 infections here has soared in the past few days, with most infections traced to a hospital in the southeastern county of Cheongdo and a minor Christian sect in the southeastern city of Daegu, which constitute some 80 percent of the total infections here.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun issues a public message calling for people to cooperate with the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, at the government complex in Seoul, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(LEAD) Next 10 days crucial for containment of coronavirus spread: Seoul

SEOUL , Feb. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea said Sunday that the next seven or 10 days will @ @ @ @ @ in the fight against the new coronavirus , vowing to take all possible measures to @ @ @ @ @ potentially fatal illness .

(ATTN: UPDATES death toll in 3rd para)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday that the next seven or 10 days will be the most crucial juncture in the fight against the new coronavirus, vowing to take all possible measures to prevent further spread of the potentially fatal illness.
The country raised its alert level to the highest of "red," to deal with COVID-19 virus in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
So far, the country has reported a total of 602 virus cases, and six deaths from the novel coronavirus.
South Korea said while the disease is currently spreading within limited groups and areas, the decision was necessary amid the looming possibility that the virus may further spread across the country.
Most confirmed cases centered around a religious organization in the country's fourth-largest city of Daegu and a hospital in the neighboring county of Cheongdo and North Gyeongsang Province.
"The COVID-19 is spreading quickly, but it is limited within a specific region and group," Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a briefing. "We are focusing all efforts to eradicate the virus within Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province."
Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo speaks during a press meeting held in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
The health minister said the government will secure 609 beds in Daegu to accommodate the virus-infected patients, with around 1,000 more to be made available across the country.
South Korea said it will be capable of acquiring 10,000 beds nationwide. Seoul will also designate some 43 hospitals throughout the country to treat patients with lighter symptoms.
South Korea especially advised residents of Daegu to refrain from going outside for next two weeks, and urged those with symptoms to visit designated public health centers.
While the overseas spread of the virus is expected to continue, South Korea said it is confident that the spread of the new coronavirus will eventually be fully curbed here.
"South Korea has advanced medical systems, experts, and technologies and is capable of coping with COVID-19," Park said.
To better cope with the spread, South Korea said it will open a central headquarters in charge of the COVID-19 outbreak, which will be led by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kun. It marked the first time for a prime minister to take such a position.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(LEAD) USFK says it has no case of COVID-19 among its personnel

SEOUL , Feb. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- The U.S .
Forces Korea ( USFK ) said Sunday that it @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus among its personnel despite an increase in the number of South Korean @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES death toll in 3rd para)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Sunday that it has no confirmed case of the new coronavirus among its personnel despite an increase in the number of South Korean patients.
In an updated report on its efforts to fend off the COVID-19 virus, the 28,500-strong USFK said that the risk for its personnel and installations on the Korean Peninsula remains "moderate."
On the day, South Korea's death toll from the virus increased to six with the number of confirmed cases rising to 602.
"USFK leadership and staff have strong preventative control measures in place," the USFK said in the report posted on its website.
"Out of a strong abundance of caution and utilizing the USFK Commander's authorities to protect the force, the risk for USFK peninsula-wide personnel and installations remains MODERATE," it added.
The USFK also enumerated a set of health protection measures, such as avoiding shaking hands with others and gathering in large groups, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(7th LD) S. Korea ups alert to highest level as virus cases spike to 602, death toll at 6

The sixth victim of the novel virus was a patient at Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo , @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 fatality took place and more than 110 people , including nine medical staff , @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its sixth death from the new coronavirus with the number of the total confirmed cases spiking to 602, forcing the country to raise the virus alert to highest level.
Despite stepped-up quarantine efforts, health authorities added three deaths and 169 additional cases to the daily tally that deepened fears of contagion across the country and led to a one-week delay in the start of the new school year set for next month.
The sixth victim of the novel virus was a patient at Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo, where the country's first COVID-19 fatality took place and more than 110 people, including nine medical staff, were found to be infected.
The 59-year-old man was confirmed to be infected on Wednesday and died at Dongguk University in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, while being treated for the disease.
The fifth death was reported from the southeastern city of Daegu, where more than 300 people traced to church services are confirmed to have contracted the virus.
The 56-year-old woman died at Kyungpook National University Hospital, while being treated for the novel coronavirus.
The fourth victim was confirmed to be infected on Wednesday. The 57-year-old patient suffered from serious pneumonia before being infected with the virus.
Amid the rise in the number of deaths and infections, the country raised the virus alert level to "red," the highest in its four-tier system, for the first time in more than a decade.
The alert level change represented Seoul's efforts to focus both on insulating the country from contagion by foreign visitors and on halting community spread and minimizing damage from the virus, officials said.
"The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed," President Moon Jae-in said. "A few days from now is a very important moment."
To beef up containment efforts, the government plans to install a new disaster countermeasures headquarters. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will head it with the health and interior ministers serving as its deputy chiefs.
Calling for citizens' concerted efforts, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said that the next seven or 10 days will be the most crucial juncture in fighting the virus.
"The COVID-19 is spreading quickly, but it is limited within a specific region and group," Park told a briefing.
Most COVID-19 infections are centered on a religious organization in the country's fourth-largest city of Daegu and the neighboring Daenam Hospital.
On Friday, South Korea declared that Daegu and its adjacent county Cheongdo are "special care zones."
Streets in downtown Daegu, located around 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, are nearly empty on Feb. 23, 2020, as residents avoided going outside amid the spread of the new coronavirus in the city. (Yonhap)
Of the 169 new cases, 95 are related to worship services of the Shincheonji church in Daegu, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of cases that can be traced to the church services reached 329, accounting for more than half of the total cases here.
A total of 117 new cases were in Daegu, a city of roughly 2.5 million, with 25 new virus incidents reported in the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, it added.
Authorities said they have acquired a list of members from the Daegu-based Shincheonji church and are closely monitoring them.
The KCDC earlier said it has placed more than 9,334 Shincheonji members in self-quarantine. Of them, 1,248 have shown COVID-19-related symptoms.
From North Gyeongsang Province, 18 out of 39 Catholic pilgrims who recently travelled as a group to Israel have been confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus.
Gwangju in the southwest and the southern island of Jeju also reported several new cases each, while the southern port city of Busan reported eight more virus patients, in a sign that the virus may spread quickly nationwide.
The total number of cases from Busan reached 13.
South Korea confirmed its first new coronavirus case from a Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, on Jan. 20.
A Catholic church located in Daegu, around 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is closed on Feb. 23, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the city. (Yonhap)
The country's 31st patient, a probable "super spreader," attended Shincheonji's worship services in Daegu.
Prime Minister Chung, in a rare public message on Saturday night, reassured people that the virus can be contained if the public cooperates with the government's instructions.
Seven patients with underlying illnesses are in relatively critical condition, with three of them on life support, the health authorities added.
On Sunday, a 16-month-old baby from Gimpo, west of Seoul, was reported as the country's youngest virus patient. Hours earlier, a 4-year-old child from Daegu was confirmed to have the virus.
Last week, an 11-year-old child was also diagnosed with the virus.
The KCDC said South Korea is carrying out around 5,000 to 6,000 tests per day.
It also ruled out rumors that the country is short of medical supplies to treat COVID-19, including the anti-HIV medication Kaletra.
South Korea will maintain efforts to keep a stable supply of such pharmaceutical goods, it added.
The country's health authorities earlier advised local hospitals to use Kaletra or Chloroquine -- used to treat malaria -- for patients of the new coronavirus.
South Korea has released 18 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals as of Sunday morning, the KCDC said.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 8,057, it added. The country has tested a total of 26,179 suspected cases, with 17,520 testing negative.
Ambulances are mobilized in Daegu, located some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Feb. 23, 2020, to carry patients infected with the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports one more coronavirus death, total at 6

(URGENT) N. Korea says Travis King decided to come over to N. Korea because he harbored ill feeling within the U.S. Army: KCNA


yna--2020-02-23--USFK says it has no case of COVID-19 among its personnel

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Sunday that it has no confirmed case of the new coronavirus among its personnel despite an increase in the number of South Korean patients.
In an updated report on its efforts to fend off the COVID-19 virus, the 28,500-strong USFK said that the risk for its personnel and installations on the Korean Peninsula remains "moderate."
On the day, South Korea's death toll from the virus increased to five with the number of confirmed cases rising to 602.
"USFK leadership and staff have strong preventative control measures in place," the USFK said in the report posted on its website.
"Out of a strong abundance of caution and utilizing the USFK Commander's authorities to protect the force, the risk for USFK peninsula-wide personnel and installations remains MODERATE," it added.
The USFK also enumerated a set of health protection measures, such as avoiding shaking hands with others and gathering in large groups, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(6th LD) S. Korea ups alert to highest level as virus cases spike to 602, death toll at 5

Despite stepped-up quarantine efforts , health authorities added two more deaths and 169 additional cases to the daily tally that @ @ @ @ @ the country and led to a one-week delay in the start of the new school @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its fifth death from the new coronavirus with the number of the total confirmed cases spiking to 602, forcing the country to raise the virus alert to highest level.
Despite stepped-up quarantine efforts, health authorities added two more deaths and 169 additional cases to the daily tally that deepened fears of contagion across the country and led to a one-week delay in the start of the new school year set for next month.
The fifth death was reported from the southeastern city of Daegu, where more than 300 people traced to church services are confirmed to have contracted the potentially deadly virus.
The 56-year-old woman died at Kyungpook National University Hospital, while being treated for the novel coronavirus.
The fourth victim of the epidemic was confirmed to be infected on Wednesday. The 57-year-old patient suffered from serious pneumonia before being infected with the virus.
Three of the coronavirus deaths were from Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo, where the country's first COVID-19 fatality took place and more than 110 people, including nine medical staff, were found to be infected.
Amid the rise in the number of deaths and infections, the country raised the virus alert level to "red," the highest in its four-tier system, for the first time in more than a decade.
The alert level change represented Seoul's efforts to focus both on insulating the country from contagion by foreign visitors and on halting community spread and minimizing damage from the virus, officials said.
"The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed," President Moon Jae-in said. "A few days from now is a very important moment."
To beef up containment efforts, the government plans to install a new disaster countermeasures headquarters. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will head it with the health and interior ministers serving as its deputy chiefs.
Calling for citizens' concerted efforts, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said that the next seven or 10 days will be the most crucial juncture in fighting the virus.
"The COVID-19 is spreading quickly, but it is limited within a specific region and group," Park told a briefing.
Most COVID-19 infections are centered on a religious organization in the country's fourth-largest city of Daegu and the neighboring Daenam Hospital.
On Friday, South Korea declared that Daegu and its adjacent county Cheongdo are "special care zones."
Streets in downtown Daegu, located around 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, are nearly empty on Feb. 23, 2020, as residents avoided going outside amid the spread of the new coronavirus in the city. (Yonhap)
Of the 169 new cases, 95 are related to worship services of the Shincheonji church in Daegu, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of cases that can be traced to the church services reached 329, accounting for more than half of the total cases here.
A total of 117 new cases were in Daegu, a city of roughly 2.5 million, with 25 new virus incidents reported in the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, it added.
Authorities said they have acquired a list of members from the Daegu-based Shincheonji church and are closely monitoring them.
The KCDC earlier said it has placed more than 9,334 Shincheonji members in self-quarantine. Of them, 1,248 have shown COVID-19-related symptoms.
From North Gyeongsang Province, 18 out of 39 Catholic pilgrims who recently travelled as a group to Israel have been confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus.
Gwangju in the southwest and the southern island of Jeju also reported several new cases each, while the southern port city of Busan reported eight more virus patients, in a sign that the virus may spread quickly nationwide.
The total number of cases from Busan reached 13.
South Korea confirmed its first new coronavirus case from a Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, on Jan. 20.
A Catholic church located in Daegu, around 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is closed on Feb. 23, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the city. (Yonhap)
The country's 31st patient, a probable "super spreader," attended Shincheonji's worship services in Daegu.
Prime Minister Chung, in a rare public message on Saturday night, reassured people that the virus can be contained if the public cooperates with the government's instructions.
Seven patients with underlying illnesses are in relatively critical condition, with three of them on life support, the health authorities added.
On Sunday, a 16-month-old baby from Gimpo, west of Seoul, was reported as the country's youngest virus patient. Hours earlier, a 4-year-old child from Daegu was confirmed to have the virus.
Last week, an 11-year-old child was also diagnosed with the virus.
The KCDC said South Korea is carrying out around 5,000 to 6,000 tests per day.
It also ruled out rumors that the country is short of medical supplies to treat COVID-19, including the anti-HIV medication Kaletra.
South Korea will maintain efforts to keep a stable supply of such pharmaceutical goods, it added.
The country's health authorities earlier advised local hospitals to use Kaletra or Chloroquine -- used to treat malaria -- for patients of the new coronavirus.
South Korea has released 18 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals as of Sunday morning, the KCDC said.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 8,057, it added. The country has tested a total of 26,179 suspected cases, with 17,520 testing negative.
Ambulances are mobilized in Daegu, located some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Feb. 23, 2020, to carry patients infected with the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(2nd LD) S. Korea to postpone new school year as coronavirus spikes

`` To prevent the spread of infection , and for the safety of students and school faculty , the education @ @ @ @ @ day of the 2020 school year at kindergartens , elementary , middle and high schools @ @ @ @ @ week , '' Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said in a government press briefing .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday it will postpone the new school year, set to start next month, as part of efforts to tackle the new coronavirus after the number of patients spiked to more than 600.
"To prevent the spread of infection, and for the safety of students and school faculty, the education ministry will postpone the first day of the 2020 school year at kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools across the country by a week," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said in a government press briefing.
The country raised its disease alert by one notch to the highest level earlier in the day in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional COVID-19 cases over the weekend.
The government reported 169 new cases earlier in the day, bringing the total to 602.
Under the measure, the new school year will begin on March 9. The education minister said the ministry will closely monitor the ongoing outbreak to take additional measures as necessary and flexibly adjust the school calendar.
This marks the first time the school term has been postponed across the country.
Even when the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome broke out in 2015, the school term was adjusted in only certain regions.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae speaks at a government press briefing on the new coronavirus in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
To support parents who cannot look after their children during weekdays, the ministry plans to provide childcare programs at kindergartens and elementary schools. It also plans to consult with the labor and finance ministry to encourage companies to grant childcare holidays to employees.
Yoo stressed the importance of coordinated efforts, saying the ministry will closely monitor private education institutes and also asked parents to keep their children away from private institutes and "PC bangs," or internet cafes, for the next two weeks.
The minister also unveiled additional measures to support Chinese nationals enrolled in universities here. Around 70,000 students study in the country, with some 19,000 students expected to arrive here until late March.
Yoo said the ministry expects around 10,000 students to return this week, saying the ministry and schools will provide students with health monitoring and shuttle bus services from the airport.
The ministry recently advised students who have not booked their return ticket to take the semester off.
On Sunday, the ministry unveiled support measures for these students, such as easing school regulations so they could take more classes in one semester and allowing them to take online classes provided by other schools.
The government has already advised local universities to postpone the new school year by up to four weeks, with most schools taking part in the plan.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(LEAD) S. Korea to postpone new school year as coronavirus spikes

(ATTN: UPDATES with details throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday it will postpone the new school year, set to start next month, as part of efforts to tackle the new coronavirus after the number of patients spiked to more than 600.
"To prevent the spread of infection, and for the safety of students and school faculty, the education ministry will postpone the first day of the 2020 school year at kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools across the country by a week," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said in a government press briefing.
The country raised its disease alert by one notch to the highest level earlier in the day in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional COVID-19 cases over the weekend.
The government reported 169 new cases earlier in the day, bringing the total to 602.
Under the measure, the new school year will begin on March 9. The education minister said the ministry will closely monitor the ongoing outbreak to take additional measures as necessary and flexibly adjust the school calendar.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae speaks at a government press briefing on the new coronavirus in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
To support parents who cannot look after their children during weekdays, the ministry plans to provide childcare programs at kindergartens and elementary schools. It also plans to consult with the labor and finance ministry to encourage companies to grant childcare holidays to employees.
Yoo stressed the importance of coordinated efforts, saying the ministry will closely monitor private education institutes and also asked parents to keep their children away from private institutes and "PC bangs," or internet cafes, for the next two weeks.
The minister also unveiled additional measures to support Chinese nationals enrolled in universities here. Around 70,000 students study in the country, with some 19,000 students expected to arrive here until late March.
Yoo said the ministry expects around 10,000 students to return this week, saying the ministry and schools will provide students with health monitoring and shuttle bus services from the airport.
The ministry recently advised students who have not booked their return ticket to take the semester off.
On Sunday, the ministry unveiled support measures for these students, such as easing school regulations so they could take more classes in one semester and allowing them to take online classes provided by other schools.
The government has already advised local universities to postpone the new school year by up to four weeks, with most schools taking part in the plan.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--Next 10 days crucial for containment of coronavirus spread: Seoul

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday that the next seven or 10 days will be the most crucial juncture in the fight against the new coronavirus, vowing to take all possible measures to prevent further spread of the potentially fatal illness.
The country raised its alert level to the highest of "red," to deal with COVID-19 virus in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
So far, the country has reported a total of 602 virus cases, and five deaths from the novel coronavirus.
South Korea said while the disease is currently spreading within limited groups and areas, the decision was necessary amid the looming possibility that the virus may further spread across the country.
Most confirmed cases centered around a religious organization in the country's fourth-largest city of Daegu and a hospital in the neighboring county of Cheongdo and North Gyeongsang Province.
"The COVID-19 is spreading quickly, but it is limited within a specific region and group," Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a briefing. "We are focusing all efforts to eradicate the virus within Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province."
Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo speaks during a press meeting held in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
The health minister said the government will secure 609 beds in Daegu to accommodate the virus-infected patients, with around 1,000 more to be made available across the country.
South Korea said it will be capable of acquiring 10,000 beds nationwide. Seoul will also designate some 43 hospitals throughout the country to treat patients with lighter symptoms.
South Korea especially advised residents of Daegu to refrain from going outside for next two weeks, and urged those with symptoms to visit designated public health centers.
While the overseas spread of the virus is expected to continue, South Korea said it is confident that the spread of the new coronavirus will eventually be fully curbed here.
"South Korea has advanced medical systems, experts, and technologies and is capable of coping with COVID-19," Park said.
To better cope with the spread, South Korea said it will open a central headquarters in charge of the COVID-19 outbreak, which will be led by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kun. It marked the first time for a prime minister to take such a position.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--S. Korea to postpone new school year as coronavirus spikes

SEOUL , Feb. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea said Sunday it will postpone the new school year , @ @ @ @ @ , as part of efforts to tackle the new coronavirus after the number of patients @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday it will postpone the new school year, set to start next month, as part of efforts to tackle the new coronavirus after the number of patients spiked to more than 600.
Under the measure, the new school year at all kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools across the country will begin on March 9, a week later than initially planned, government officials said in a press briefing.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae speaks at a government press briefing on the new coronavirus in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
The government said it plans to provide childcare programs at kindergartens and elementary schools for children whose parents cannot look after them and encourage companies to give childcare holidays to parents.
As part of the measures, the government said it will advise private institutes to also take part in the pan-government measure to fight the contagious disease.
On Sunday, South Korea raised its disease alert by one notch to the highest level in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional COVID-19 cases over the weekend.
The government reported 169 new cases earlier in the day, bringing the total to 602.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(URGENT) S. Korea says next 7 to 10 days will be crucial juncture in coronavirus spread


yna--2020-02-23--More than half of S. Korean coronavirus infections linked to Shincheonji

`` We 've asked 9,294 members of our Daegu church under quarantine and all of our followers are being checked @ @ @ @ @ an official from the religious organization said in an announcement streamed online at 5 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ we 've shut down our 1,100 churches and annexed buildings .
And all services , @ @ @ @ @ . ''

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- More than half of coronavirus infections in South Korea are linked to the homegrown religious group of Shincheonji, data showed Sunday.
The religious organization, known as Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, has been suspected as a hotbed for the recent surge in infections of the COVID-19 virus in the southeastern regions of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
As of Sunday evening, 329, or about 54.7 percent, of the country's 602 confirmed cases of the highly contagious virus are linked to members of the group and people who came into contact with them, according to the data by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The KCDC earlier said it has placed more than 9,334 Shincheonji members in self-quarantine. Of them, 1,248 have shown COVID-19-related symptoms.
The nation's 31st patient, a Shincheonji follower, reportedly visited a Daegu church four times in total before and after she felt symptoms of the coronavirus infection. She tested positive for the new coronavirus on Tuesday.
Daegu, a metropolis of 2.4 million people about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province had remained free from coronavirus infection until patient No. 31's case was announced.
Earlier Sunday, President Moon Jae-in said the South Korean government has decided to raise the country's disease alert by one notch to the highest level in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
He said the health authorities are taking "special" steps in connection with the followers of Shincheonji, viewed as an epicenter of many infections reported in the country over the past few days.
The president also requested cooperation by Shincheonji followers and asked the public to refrain from engaging in mass gatherings for the time being.
Against the backdrop, the Shincheonji Church made a public announcement on its website, saying that the organization is closely in cooperation with the health authorities to prevent further infections.
"We've asked 9,294 members of our Daegu church under quarantine and all of our followers are being checked for the virus," an official from the religious organization said in an announcement streamed online at 5 p.m. "Since Feb. 18, we've shut down our 1,100 churches and annexed buildings. And all services, meetings and events are canceled."
He said the church has submitted the entire list of its worshipers but 253 people are still out of contact.
He asked the public to refrain from spreading groundless rumors about the church and its members, claiming that it also is a victim of the widespreding coronavirus originated in China.
This image captured from the homepage of Shincheonji shows an official from the religious group delivering a message on Feb. 23, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(2nd LD) Department stores shut down over coronavirus fears

Shinsegae Department Store said its store in the posh Gangnam district will close its food court on the basement level @ @ @ @ @ a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus stayed at the venue for an hour on @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest figures)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- Major South Korean retailers said Sunday they will partially shut down some of their outlets in Seoul for disinfection measures following recent visits by patients diagnosed with the new coronavirus.
Shinsegae Department Store said its store in the posh Gangnam district will close its food court on the basement level for one day, after a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus stayed at the venue for an hour on Wednesday with her husband.
The patient attended a religious service of a minor Christian sect in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul, last week. Her infection was confirmed on Friday.
Members of the sect constitute the majority of the total coronavirus infections here, which have topped 600 cases.
South Korea also two more deaths from the virus, bringing the death toll to 5.
This undated file photo shows the Gangnam outlet of Shinsegae Department Store. (Yonhap)
Shinsegae said it has decided to maintain the operation of other floors as the patient only visited the food court and wore a face mask.
"We will take all necessary disinfection and sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus," a corporate official said.
Lotte Department Store also decided to close down its outlet in western Seoul, after a coronavirus patient visited the venue on Wednesday.
"While the patient only visited a part of the outlet, we decided to fully close the building for safety," an official from Lotte said.
Earlier this month, other department store and supermarket chains, such as Hyundai Department Store, also suspended the operations of their stores after patients' visits.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(4th LD) S. Korea raises virus alert level to 'highest' as cases spike

The 31st reported patient infected with the virus , a woman in her 60s , is presumed to have attended @ @ @ @ @ the church in Daegu before testing positive for the virus last week .
The number @ @ @ @ @ Korea , mostly in Daegu and the nearby town of Cheongdo , shot up to @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , which includes five deaths .

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest tally in 8th para)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday it has decided to raise its alert level against the COVID-19 virus to "highest" in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
"The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed," President Moon Jae-in said as he publicly announced the measure. "A few days from now is a very important moment."
President Moon Jae-in (C) speaks at an inter-agency meeting on COVID-19 at Government Complex Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
He said the government would strengthen the overall response system by raising the alert level by one notch to the highest of "red," speaking at an inter-agency government on responding to the outbreak that was held at Government Complex Seoul.
It's the first time that the country, traditionally known for tight quarantine measures, has raised the virus alert level to the highest in the four-tier system, in 11 years since its previous step against Influenza A (H1N1).
The measure enables the government to take such strong measures as forcibly preventing public activities or ordering the temporary closure of schools.
The president said the government and the local authorities should not hesitate to take "unprecedented powerful" measures to contain the viral disease without being limited by "regulations."
He mentioned a minor Christian sect, known as Shincheonji. Its church in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is viewed as an epicenter of many infections reported over the past few days.
The 31st reported patient infected with the virus, a woman in her 60s, is presumed to have attended lengthy crowded worship services at the church in Daegu before testing positive for the virus last week. The number of confirmed cases in South Korea, mostly in Daegu and the nearby town of Cheongdo, shot up to over 600 as of Sunday afternoon, which includes five deaths.
Moon pointed out that health authorities are taking "special" steps in connection with the followers of Shincheonji, meaning "new world" in Korean.
The government is trying to trace all of the members for virus tests.
Closing facilities related to Shincheonji and limiting its members' activities nationwide are unavoidable measures to protect public health and safety, not seeking to restrict religious freedom, Moon said.
President Moon Jae-in enters a conference room at the Government Complex in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020, followed by chief of staff Noh Young-min. (Yonhap)
South Korea's fight against the virus is "utterly different" between before and after the collective infections traced to Shincheonji, Moon pointed out, adding his administration would beef up its "cooperation and support" system with local government authorities.
"The government will perceive the crisis in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province as a national one," he said. "It will concentrate state capabilities on riding out the difficulty without sparing any support" for the regions designated as "special care zones."
He requested cooperation by Shincheonji followers as well, asking the public to refrain from engaging in collective events, both indoors and outdoors, for the time being.
"Although the situation is grave, we can overcome it," he emphasized. "The government has adequate ability and confidence to control and manage the spread of the infectious disease. Trust and cooperation are the way to win the fight against the virus."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(2nd LD) S. Korea's virus death toll rises to 5

Three of the coronavirus deaths were from Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo , where the country 's @ @ @ @ @ and more than 110 people , including nine medical staff , were found to be @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported two more deaths from the new coronavirus Sunday to bring the death toll to 5, with the number of confirmed virus cases here surpassing 600.
The fifth death was from the southeastern city of Daegu where some 400 people traced to church services are confirmed to have contracted the potentially deadly virus.
The 56-year-old woman died at Kyungpook National University Hospital while being treated for the novel coronavirus.
The fourth victim of the novel virus was confirmed to be infected on Wednesday. The patient in his late 50s suffered from serious pneumonia before being infected with the novel coronavirus.
Three of the coronavirus deaths were from Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo, where the country's first COVID-19 fatality took place and more than 110 people, including nine medical staff, were found to be infected.
The country has reported a total of 602 virus cases with 169 new cases added on Sunday.
A patient leaves Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo, where the country's first COVID-19 fatality took place, on Feb 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea reported its first death on Feb. 19, when a 63-year-old man died of pneumonia at the same hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 after his death. On Friday, another virus patient in her mid-50s died at Daenam Hospital.
So far, 111 people, including nine medical staff, have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 at the hospital.
The hospital emerged as another epicenter of the spread of the virus in South Korea, along with a minor religious organization in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(5th LD) S. Korea ups alert level to highest, as virus cases spike to 602, death toll at 5

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its fifth death from the new coronavirus with the number of the total confirmed cases spiking to 602, forcing the country to raise the virus alert to highest level.
Despite its stepped-up quarantine efforts, the country added two more deaths and 169 additional cases -- a development that deepened fears of contagion across the country.
The fifth death was from the southeastern city of Daegu where more than 300 people traced to church services are confirmed to have contracted the potentially deadly virus.
The 56-year-old woman died at Kyungpook National University Hospital, while being treated for the novel coronavirus.
The fourth victim of the novel virus was confirmed to be infected on Wednesday. The patient in his late 50s suffered from serious pneumonia before being infected with the novel coronavirus.
Three of the coronavirus deaths were from Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo, where the country's first COVID-19 fatality took place and more than 110 people, including nine medical staff, were found to be infected.
Amid the rise in the number of deaths and infections, the country raised the virus alert level to "red," the highest in its four-tier system, for the first time in more than a decade.
"The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed," President Moon Jae-in said. "A few days from now is a very important moment."
The most cases of COVID-19 infections most cases centered around a religious organization in the country's fourth-largest city of Daegu and the neighboring Daenam Hospital.
On Friday, South Korea declared that Daegu and its adjacent county Cheongdo are "special care zones."
Streets in downtown Daegu, located around 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, are nearly empty on Feb. 23, 2020, as residents avoided going outside amid the spread of the new coronavirus in the city. (Yonhap)
Of the 169 new cases, 95 are related to worship services of the Shincheonji church in the southeastern city of Daegu, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of cases that can be traced to the church services reached 329, accounting for more than half of the total cases here.
More than 110 new cases were in Daegu, which has a population of roughly 2.5 million, with 25 new virus incidents reported in the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, it added.
Authorities said they have acquired a list of members from the Daegu-based Shincheonji church and are closely monitoring them.
The KCDC earlier said it has placed more than 9,334 Shincheonji members in self-quarantine. Of them, 1,248 have shown COVID-19-related symptoms.
From North Gyeongsang Province, 18 out of 39 Catholic pilgrims who recently made a group pilgrimage to Israel have been confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus.
Gwangju and Jeju also reported several new cases each, while the southern port city of Busan reported eight more virus patients, in a sign that the virus may spread quickly nationwide.
The total number of cases from Busan reached 13.
South Korea confirmed its first new coronavirus case from a Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, on Jan. 20.
A Catholic church located in Daegu, around 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is closed on Feb. 23, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the city. (Yonhap)
The country's 31st patient, a probable "super spreader," had attended Shincheonji's worship services in Daegu.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, in a rare public message on Saturday night, reassured people that the virus can be contained if the public cooperates with the government's instructions.
Seven patients with underlying illnesses are in relatively critical conditions, with three of them on life support, the health authorities added.
The youngest virus patient in the country was also reported earlier in the day. The 4-year-old child attended a day care center, where a teacher was also infected with the virus.
The child is currently in a stable condition, with medical experts currently making efforts to provide necessary treatments, the KCDC said.
Two children have been infected with the novel virus so far, with the other 11-year-old child diagnosed with the disease on Wednesday.
The KCDC said South Korea is carrying out around 5,000 to 6,000 tests every day.
It also ruled out rumors that the country is short of medical supplies to treat COVID-19, including the anti-HIV medication Kaletra.
South Korea will maintain efforts to keep a stable supply of such pharmaceutical goods, it added.
The country's health authorities earlier advised local hospitals to use Kaletra or Chloroquine -- used to treat malaria -- for patients of the new coronavirus.
South Korea has released 18 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals as of Sunday morning, the KCDC said.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 8,057, it added. The country has tested a total of 26,179 suspected cases, with 17,520 testing negative.
Ambulances are mobilized in Daegu, located some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Feb. 23, 2020, to carry patients infected with the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 46 more cases of new coronavirus, total soars to 602.


yna--2020-02-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 5th death from coronavirus


yna--2020-02-23--(3rd LD) S. Korea raises virus alert level to 'highest' as cases spike

The 31st reported patient infected with the virus , a woman in her 60s , is presumed to have attended @ @ @ @ @ the church in Daegu before testing positive for the virus last week .
The number @ @ @ @ @ Korea , mostly in Daegu and the nearby town of Cheongdo , have since shot @ @ @ @ @ of Sunday morning .

(ATTN: UPDATES paras 4-5 with more info)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday it has decided to raise its alert level against the COVID-19 virus to "highest" in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
"The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed," President Moon Jae-in said as he publicly announced the measure. "A few days from now is a very important moment."
President Moon Jae-in (C) speaks at an inter-agency meeting on COVID-19 at Government Complex Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
He said the government would strengthen the overall response system by raising the alert level by one notch to the highest of "red," speaking at an inter-agency government on responding to the outbreak that was held at Government Complex Seoul.
It's the first time that the country, traditionally known for tight quarantine measures, has raised the virus alert level to the highest in the four-tier system, in 11 years since its previous step against Influenza A (H1N1).
The measure enables the government to take such strong measures as forcibly preventing public activities or ordering the temporary closure of schools.
The president said the government and the local authorities should not hesitate to take "unprecedented powerful" measures to contain the viral disease without being limited by "regulations."
He mentioned a minor Christian sect, known as Shincheonji. Its church in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is viewed as an epicenter of many infections reported over the past few days.
The 31st reported patient infected with the virus, a woman in her 60s, is presumed to have attended lengthy crowded worship services at the church in Daegu before testing positive for the virus last week. The number of confirmed cases in South Korea, mostly in Daegu and the nearby town of Cheongdo, have since shot up to over 556 as of Sunday morning.
Moon pointed out that health authorities are taking "special" steps in connection with the followers of Shincheonji, meaning "new world" in Korean.
The government is trying to trace all of the members for virus tests.
Closing facilities related to Shincheonji and limiting its members' activities nationwide are unavoidable measures to protect public health and safety, not seeking to restrict religious freedom, Moon said.
President Moon Jae-in enters a conference room at the Government Complex in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020, followed by chief of staff Noh Young-min. (Yonhap)
South Korea's fight against the virus is "utterly different" between before and after the collective infections traced to Shincheonji, Moon pointed out, adding his administration would beef up its "cooperation and support" system with local government authorities.
"The government will perceive the crisis in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province as a national one," he said. "It will concentrate state capabilities on riding out the difficulty without sparing any support" for the regions designated as "special care zones."
He requested cooperation by Shincheonji followers as well, asking the public to refrain from engaging in collective events, both indoors and outdoors, for the time being.
"Although the situation is grave, we can overcome it," he emphasized. "The government has adequate ability and confidence to control and manage the spread of the infectious disease. Trust and cooperation are the way to win the fight against the virus."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-23--(2nd LD) S. Korea raises virus alert level to 'highest' as cases spike

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in 3rd para, additional remarks in last paras; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday it has decided to raise its alert level against the COVID-19 virus to "highest" in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
"The COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed," President Moon Jae-in said as he publicly announced the measure. "A few days from now is a very important moment."
It's the first time that the country, traditionally known for tight quarantine measures, has raised the virus alert level to "serious," the highest in the four-tier system, in 11 years since its previous step against Influenza A (H1N1).
President Moon Jae-in (C) speaks at an inter-agency meeting on COVID-19 at Government Complex Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
He said the government would strengthen the overall response system by raising the alert level by one notch to the highest of "red," speaking at an inter-agency government on responding to the outbreak that was held at Government Complex Seoul.
The president said the government and the local authorities should not hesitate to take "unprecedented powerful" measures to contain the viral disease without being limited by "regulations."
He mentioned a minor Christian sect, known as Shincheonji. Its church in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is viewed as an epicenter of many infections reported over the past few days.
The 31st reported patient infected with the virus, a woman in her 60s, is presumed to have attended lengthy crowded worship services at the church in Daegu before testing positive for the virus last week. The number of confirmed cases in South Korea, mostly in Daegu and the nearby town of Cheongdo, have since shot up to over 556 as of Sunday morning.
Moon pointed out that health authorities are taking "special" steps in connection with the followers of Shincheonji, meaning "new world" in Korean.
The government is trying to trace all of the members for virus tests.
Closing facilities related to Shincheonji and limiting its members' activities nationwide are unavoidable measures to protect public health and safety, not seeking to restrict religious freedom, Moon said.
President Moon Jae-in enters a conference room at the Government Complex in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2020, followed by chief of staff Noh Young-min. (Yonhap)
South Korea's fight against the virus is "utterly different" between before and after the collective infections traced to Shincheonji, Moon pointed out, adding his administration would beef up its "cooperation and support" system with local government authorities.
"The government will perceive the crisis in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province as a national one," he said. "It will concentrate state capabilities on riding out the difficulty without sparing any support" for the regions designated as "special care zones."
He requested cooperation by Shincheonji followers as well, asking the public to refrain from engaging in collective events, both indoors and outdoors, for the time being.
"Although the situation is grave, we can overcome it," he emphasized. "The government has adequate ability and confidence to control and manage the spread of the infectious disease. Trust and cooperation are the way to win the fight against the virus."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--Seoul stocks open sharply lower on growing virus scares

SEOUL , Feb. 24 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks started sharply lower on Monday after the number of @ @ @ @ @ tripled over the weekend .
The Korean won also dropped sharply against the U.S. dollar @

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started sharply lower on Monday after the number of new coronavirus cases here nearly tripled over the weekend. The Korean won also dropped sharply against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 50.87 points, or 2.35 percent, to 2,111.97 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
As of late Sunday, South Korea confirmed more than 600 cases of COVID-19 cases, with the death toll reaching six. It marked a sharp jump from roughly 200 cases confirmed late Friday.
Most confirmed cases centered around a religious organization in the country's fourth-largest city of Daegu and a hospital in the neighboring county of Cheongdo and North Gyeongsang Province.
On Sunday, South Korea raised its alert level to the highest in its latest heightened response to the confirmation of hundreds of additional cases over the weekend.
Shares lost ground across the board.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics shed 2.53 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix dropped 2.43 percent. Samsung SDI lost 3.12 percent.
No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor dipped 3.12 percent, and its smaller sister Kia Motors decreased 2.37 percent. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis moved down 1.75 percent.
Pharmaceutical firms also lost ground. Samsung BioLogics surrendered 1.95 percent and Celltrion decreased 2.26 percent. Hanmi Pharmaceutical shed 3.08 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,217.40 won against the U.S. dollar, down 8.20 won from the previous session's close.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--BOK widely expected to cut base rate in first half: poll

`` The government too has acknowledged the need for active steps to defend the economy , but in that an @ @ @ @ @ possible in the near future , we believe the possibility of a base rate reduction @ @ @ @ @ likely , '' the analyst added .

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- The Bank of Korea (BOK) may again stand pat on its policy rate this month but will likely slash it in the first half of the year to support the local economy as it faces growing headwinds from the new coronavirus outbreak, a poll showed Monday.
In a survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, nine out of 19 experts polled expected the central bank to keep the base rate steady at a record low of 1.25 percent this week.
However, 10 out of the 19 experts expected a rate reduction next month, and the number grew to 14 for the first half.
"The number of people infected with COVID-19 sharply has increased since mid-February, along with the need for policy measures to prepare for its economic fallout," said Kong Dong-rak, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
South Korea's base rate stands at its current level following two rate cuts in July and October.
The BOK board will hold its rate-setting meeting Thursday, when it is also scheduled to offer its latest growth outlook for the local economy.
A majority of the experts earlier anticipated the BOK board to keep the base rate frozen in the first half, with just five of the 19 experts expecting a rate reduction before the end of March and only eight before the end of June.
Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Lee Ju-yeol (2nd from L) speaks to other members of the BOK monetary policy board before the start of the year's first rate-setting meeting held at the South Korean central bank in Seoul on Jan. 17, 2020, where the seven-member board voted to keep the policy rate steady at 1.25 percent. (Yonhap)
"With the COVID-19 related uncertainties persisting, the negative impact on the economy and economic sentiment may not be removed easily," said Kyobo Securities analyst Baek Yoon-min.
"The government too has acknowledged the need for active steps to defend the economy, but in that an extra budget may not be possible in the near future, we believe the possibility of a base rate reduction in February may be more likely," the analyst added.
As of Sunday, the country has reported a total of 602 virus cases and six deaths from the potentially fatal illness.
The BOK earlier estimated the South Korean economy would expand 2.3 percent this year, rebounding from last year's 2-percent expansion, but is widely expected to join many others in revising down its growth estimate for Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Global ratings agency Moody's has slashed its growth outlook for the South Korean economy to 1.9 percent from the previous 2.1 percent, citing the crippling effects of COVID-19 on the local economy, as well as that of China, the largest importer of South Korean products.
South Korea's exports have dropped for 14 consecutive months as of January. This steady decline in exports has partly been blamed for the country's slowest economic growth of 2 percent in a decade last year.
"We believe the BOK is still taking a hawkish stance, but the unexpected outbreak of the virus may have created additional uncertainties and downside risks in the path to a gradual economic growth," said JP Morgan analyst Pak Seok-kil.
"Accordingly, we expect the monetary policy board to take a preemptive measure with a base rate cut in February."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--11 soldiers confirmed as coronavirus patients, 7,700 in quarantine

In the wake of a leap in the number of confirmed cases over the past several days with a cluster @ @ @ @ @ religious group in the southeastern city of Daegu and a hospital in its adjacent country @ @ @ @ @ checked all service personnel with a history of visiting the regions or having contact with @ @ @ @ @ currently isolating around 7,700 soldiers at their bases .

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- Eleven service members have been confirmed to have the new coronavirus as of early Monday, and around 7,700 others are quarantined as part of efforts to stop the virus from spreading further into barracks, the defense ministry said.
Eight COVID-19 cases in the Army and one each in the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps were confirmed as of 8 a.m. Monday, up from a total of seven cases the previous day, according to the ministry.
The four newly confirmed soldiers are suspected of having been exposed to the virus after contacting patients inside barracks, according to military officers. South Korea reported the first virus case among its service personnel on Friday.
In the wake of a leap in the number of confirmed cases over the past several days with a cluster of infections linked to a religious group in the southeastern city of Daegu and a hospital in its adjacent country of Cheongdo, the authorities checked all service personnel with a history of visiting the regions or having contact with patients, and they are currently isolating around 7,700 soldiers at their bases.
In stepped-up efforts against the virus, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) on Monday suspended its examinations of potential conscripts to determine whether they are fit for mandatory military service for the next two weeks.
As of late Sunday, South Korea reported 608 patients, including six deaths. The government raised the alert level to "serious," the highest in its four-tier system, and pledged all-out efforts to contain the outbreak.
Soldiers move to take trains at Seoul Station in Seoul on Feb. 21, 2020. Earlier in the day, the defense ministry said it will restrict all enlisted soldiers from vacationing, staying outside their bases and meeting visitors starting the following day. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--Monsta X's 'All About Luv' lands at 5th on Billboard 200 chart

`` While 'All About Luv ' is Monsta X 's first Billboard 200 entry , the act charted on other @ @ @ @ @ it formed on a TV competition show in their home country that same year , @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- "All About Luv," the first full-length American album by K-pop boy band Monsta X, landed at fifth on the Billboard 200 chart for this week, the music magazine has said.
"The set, which is the act's first all-English language album, launches with 52,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 20," Billboard said on its website Sunday (U.S. time), citing Nielsen Music/MRC data.
Released Feb. 14, the album's latest feat made Monsta X the third K-pop act to make the top five of the Billboard 200 album following BTS and SuperM.
The result will be reflected on the chart dated Feb. 29, which will be fully posted on the Billboard website Tuesday (U.S. time).
"While 'All About Luv' is Monsta X's first Billboard 200 entry, the act charted on other Billboard tallies since 2015 after it formed on a TV competition show in their home country that same year," Billboard said.
The new album's 11 tracks were recorded in English and released under American record label, Epic Records.
This image of Monsta X taken during its appearance on American morning show "TODAY with Hoda & Jenna" on Feb. 20, 2020, is provided by Starship Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--(LEAD) N. Korea quarantines about 380 foreigners as part of preventive efforts against virus

North Korea has not reported any case of COVID-19 infection since the flu-like illness was first identified in the central @ @ @ @ @ late December , but it has taken various preventive measures against the virus to block @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS details on preventive measures in paras 6-7)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean state media reported Monday that Pyongyang has quarantined about 380 foreigners as part of efforts to prevent the new coronavirus from breaking out in the country.
North Korea has not reported any case of COVID-19 infection since the flu-like illness was first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December, but it has taken various preventive measures against the virus to block its outbreak on its soil.
"(We) have quarantined some 380 foreigners so far across the country, while intensifying isolation, medical monitoring and testing measures on those who have returned from overseas travel, those who have contacted them and those showing abnormal symptoms," according to the Korean Central Broadcasting Station.
The state radio did not provide details on the identities of the foreigners, but they appear to be diplomats stationed in Pyongyang and people involved in overseas trading.
It emphasized that stepped-up preventive measures have been taken, in particular, in North Pyongan Province, a northwestern region bordering China, saying that around 3,000 people are under monitoring for apparently showing suspected symptoms.
North Korea has also beefed up the quarantining and disinfection of imported goods as part of efforts to block all possible transmission routes.
North Korea's official newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, said that Pyongyang has distributed new disinfection, screening and quarantine guidelines urging officials to enforce more rigorous inspections on goods shipped from overseas through its border with China and major seaports.
North Korea has taken relatively swift preventive measures against the new coronavirus by tightening its border with China and doubling the quarantine period to 30 days against those coming from foreign countries.
Despite its repeated claims of no confirmed infection, concerns are growing that North Korea could be more vulnerable as it shares a long and porous border with the virus-hit China, and lacks key medical supplies and infrastructure to test and treat infected people.
This image, captured from North Korea's Korean Central TV on Feb. 2, 2020, shows an official disinfecting a train -- one of numerous disinfections taking place across the country. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Feb. 24 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .

(URGENT) N. Korea says Travis King decided to come over to N. Korea because he harbored ill feeling within the U.S. Army: KCNA


KOSPI 2,114.04 DN 48.80 points (open)


KOSDAQ 653.40 DN 14.59 points (open)


yna--2020-02-24--Dollar opens at 1,215.5 won UP from 1,209.2 won


yna--2020-02-24--Korea's coffee drinks market grows 2.2 pct in 2019

Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. was the market leader with a share of 26.6 percent , followed by Dongsuh Foods Corp. @ @ @ @ @ Dairies Co. with 16.4 percent , according to the data .

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean market for coffee drinks expanded more than 2 percent in 2019 thanks mainly to strong sales of bottled products, a market tracker said Monday.
Sales of coffee drinks came to 1.32 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) last year, up 2.2 percent from the previous year, according to Nielsen Korea.
Shipments of bottled coffee drinks shot up 60.1 percent on-year to 185.8 billion won in 2019, leading the overall market growth.
In contrast, sales of canned products shrank 6.1 percent on-year to 579.6 billion won, while single cups of instant coffee inched up 1.9 percent to 462.2 billion won.
Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. was the market leader with a share of 26.6 percent, followed by Dongsuh Foods Corp. with 23.4 percent and Maeil Dairies Co. with 16.4 percent, according to the data.
The market share gap between the top two players narrowed to 3.2 percentage points last year from more than 10 percentage points three years earlier.
Market watchers anticipated the local market for coffee beverages to grow for some years to come, bolstered by the popularity of bottled products.
This photo provided by Dongsuh Foods Corp. on Feb. 24, 2020, shows its bottled coffee drinks. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--U.S. says 'most' S. Korean workers to be furloughed if no defense deal is reached

It also said that in the absence of South Korea 's agreement to a new SMA that `` covers costs @ @ @ @ @ .
Forces Korea has ensured continuity of its operations `` by programming U.S. funds to @ @ @ @ @ Korean National workforce . ''

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- The United States will furlough "most" South Korean nationals employed at its military bases on the peninsula if no defense cost-sharing deal is reached by the beginning of April, the Pentagon said Sunday.
In a rare "media advisory" previewing Monday's meeting in Washington between South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, the Pentagon said the pair will discuss a range of bilateral issues, including the regional security environment, policy toward North Korea, the planned transition of wartime operational control, and the bilateral cost-sharing deal, known as the Special Measures Agreement.
The two sides have held six rounds of talks to renew last year's defense cost-sharing deal, known as the Special Measures Agreement (SAM), under which South Korea agreed to pay some US$870 million toward the cost of keeping 28,500 American troops stationed on the peninsula.
The South's contributions were used to cover the wages of South Korean workers at U.S. military bases, payment toward some construction projects and logistical support. The funds will be exhausted March 31, the advisory said.
"If agreement cannot be reached on a comprehensive new SMA, it will be necessary to furlough most KN employees on April 1, 2020, and suspend many construction and logistics activities," it said.
Nearly 9,000 South Koreans are currently employed on the bases.
This file photo shows South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper at a joint press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 17, 2019. (Yonhap)
The U.S. has demanded a hefty increase in Seoul's contributions.
The Pentagon claimed that "the vast majority of SMA contributions (go) back into the ROK economy." ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
It also said that in the absence of South Korea's agreement to a new SMA that "covers costs more equitably," U.S. Forces Korea has ensured continuity of its operations "by programming U.S. funds to sustain the salaries of its Korean National workforce."
The Pentagon said it will "fund critical USFK logistics cost sharing contracts and the salaries of key USFK Korean National employees who provide these services. All other services supported by KN employees will need to be suspended in an orderly and deliberate fashion."
It added: "Furloughs may be avoided if the ROK agrees to a more equitable SMA. The United States remains committed to negotiating a mutually acceptable agreement which provides for fair and equitable burden sharing and strengthens the U.S.-ROK alliance."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--N. Korea quarantines about 380 foreigners as part of preventive efforts against virus

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean state media reported Monday that Pyongyang has quarantined about 380 foreigners as part of efforts to prevent the new coronavirus from breaking out in the country.
North Korea has not reported any case of COVID-19 infection since the flu-like illness was first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December, but it has taken various preventive measures against the virus to block its outbreak on its soil.
"(We) have quarantined some 380 foreigners so far across the country, while intensifying isolation, medical monitoring and testing measures on those who have returned from overseas travel, those who have contacted them and those showing abnormal symptoms," according to the Korean Central Broadcasting Station.
The state radio did not provide details on the identities of the foreigners, but they appear to be diplomats stationed in Pyongyang and people involved in overseas trading.
It also emphasized that stepped-up preventive measures have been taken, in particular, in North Pyongan Province, a northwestern region bordering China, saying that around 3,000 people are under monitoring for apparently showing suspected symptoms.
North Korea has taken relatively swift preventive measures against the new coronavirus by tightening its border with China and doubling the quarantine period to 30 days against those coming from foreign countries.
Despite its repeated claims of no confirmed infection, concerns are growing that North Korea could be more vulnerable as it shares a long and porous border with the virus-hit China, and lacks key medical supplies and infrastructure to test and treat infected people.
This image, captured from North Korea's Korean Central TV on Feb. 2, 2020, shows an official disinfecting a train -- one of numerous disinfections taking place across the country. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Feb. 24)

In an emergency meeting at the Blue House Sunday to cope with the spread of the new coronavirus , President @ @ @ @ @ of danger to `` serious '' from `` caution . ''
The president made the @ @ @ @ @ spread to 17 metropolitan cities and provinces across the country .
The Moon administration did @ @ @ @ @ medical community 's repeated requests to do so earlier .

Shame on the government
In an emergency meeting at the Blue House Sunday to cope with the spread of the new coronavirus, President Moon Jae-in raised the level of danger to "serious" from "caution." The president made the decision after the infection had spread to 17 metropolitan cities and provinces across the country. The Moon administration did not pay heed to our medical community's repeated requests to do so earlier.
While the government was on the wrong foot -- overly obsessed with the so-called "China factor" and the upcoming parliamentary elections — the lethal virus has spread across the entire nation and started to paralyze everyday lives. In Daegu, which has the greatest concentration of infections, local residents are in a state of panic, as seen in its empty streets.
Given a critical lack of medical infrastructure there, extraordinary measures are needed. On Friday, the government designated Daegu and North Gyeongsang as areas under "special watch." If that is not enough, the government must consider declaring the region a "special disaster area." It must find effective ways to supply face masks, the prices of which have skyrocketed. The National Assembly also must draw up a supplementary budget to deal with the emergency.
It is regrettable that the Moon administration contributed to a dramatic downgrade of our hard-earned national image through its failure to manage the situation. The foreign press points to a sixfold increase in the number of infected people in just four days. CNN reported that Korea has become the most infected country after China. Is that really what the Blue House wants?
The Israeli government even turned back a Korean passenger plane. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a tightened travel caution for U.S. citizens. Taiwan raised its travel advisory to its people by two notches, while Vietnam and Thailand canceled passenger flights to Korea.
Korea has suddenly become a country avoided by other countries despite all the work to improve its international image, including the winning of Academy Awards by the movie "Parasite." The government must reflect on what it did wrong and sincerely apologize.
Medical experts warned that the coronavirus could spread from people without symptoms. The government paid no heed. Since the outbreak has entered a new phase, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must take a new approach. At the same time, each citizen must strictly follow our health authorities' guidelines.
(END)


yna--2020-02-24--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Feb. 24)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Feb. 24)

The move , although somewhat belated , reflects how serious the situation has become since the country reported its first @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
In fact , the number of confirmed cases has soared at a stunningly @ @ @ @ @ several days .
Under the top alert level , the authorities can take emergency measures @ @ @ @ @ and closing schools temporarily .
It will also become easier to mobilize medical resources , @ @ @ @ @ the virus .

Uphill battle against virus
: Take pre-emptive steps to avoid catastrophe
It is getting harder and harder to contain the spread of the new coronavirus here. The quarantine network has already become porous since last week when South Korea began to report the largest number of infections outside China. Now, the first thing the government should do is reinforce the network to fight the highly contagious COVID-19 effectively.
The government is facing criticism for failing to take bolder measures against the global public health emergency. However, it is fortunate that the Moon Jae-in administration has raised the country's virus alert to the highest level of "red." This adjustment is the first of its kind since a highly contagious influenza known as H1N1 hit the country in 2009.
The move, although somewhat belated, reflects how serious the situation has become since the country reported its first case of the coronavirus Jan. 20. In fact, the number of confirmed cases has soared at a stunningly alarming rate over the past several days. Under the top alert level, the authorities can take emergency measures such as banning public activities and closing schools temporarily. It will also become easier to mobilize medical resources, personnel and equipment to control the virus.
It is important to take timely and pre-emptive steps to properly respond to the worsening emergency. Timing is crucial in the fight against an epidemic. The coronavirus appears to be smarter than humans, overwhelming our quarantine and health care system. Pessimism is growing that we may be fighting a losing battle with the virus. But we should not and cannot yield to the disease.
Also at issue is the government's temporary entry ban on travelers from China's Hubei Province, whose capital of Wuhan is the epicenter of the novel coronavirus. There are growing calls for the expansion of the ban to cover all of China.
Regrettably, the Moon Jae-in administration has turned a deaf ear to such calls apparently in order not to anger Beijing. Of course, Seoul needs to be cautious to avoid any unnecessary diplomatic row with the world's second-largest economy and Korea's largest trading partner. However, further delaying the adoption of a total ban could put Koreans at a greater health risk as the situation is getting worse.
On Sunday, the country reported its sixth death from the virus; and 169 new infections were confirmed, increasing the total number of patients to 602. Three of the dead had been hospitalized in Daenam Hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo, where over 110 people, including nine medical staff, tested positive for the virus. More than half of all the cases were related to prayer services of the Shincheonji Church in the nation's fourth-largest city of Daegu, and neighboring Cheongdo.
The church must follow a government ban on religious gatherings faithfully and cooperate in tracing those who have come into contact with confirmed patients. It should not sabotage quarantine measures on its believers. No religious organization should be exempt from the emergency steps.
Now the authorities should mobilize all possible means to check the spread of the virus. It is also imperative to tighten the quarantine network and consolidate the health care system to treat the exploding number of patients. Leave no stone unturned to avoid the worst-case scenario.
(END)