yna--2020-03-08--(LEAD) 1 more coronavirus case reported in military, total now at 36

SEOUL , March 8 ( Yonhap ) -- One more service personnel was confirmed to have been infected with the @ @ @ @ @ total infection cases in the military rising to 36 , the defense ministry said on @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES figures in 5th para)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- One more service personnel was confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus, with the total infection cases in the military rising to 36, the defense ministry said on Sunday.
The new COVID-19 patient is an Army soldier in Pocheon, north of Seoul, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
Of the total infections, 20 were in the Army, 12 in the Air Force, two in the Marine Corps and one each in the Navy and a defense ministry unit.
Around 3,120 service members are quarantined at their bases as part of the military's broader efforts to prevent the virus from further spreading in barracks.
As of Sunday, South Korea had reported 7,313 confirmed coronavirus cases and 50 deaths.
One soldier in the Army was released on Saturday after recovering from the viral disease, it added.
Troops belonging to the Army's 50th division check the driver of an ambulance for fever near its base in northern Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Feb. 26, 2020. The military is taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among its ranks. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(LEAD) Public transportation use in Seoul sinks amid virus angst

South Korea reported its first COVID-19 infection case on Jan. 20 , and the tally shot up to 7,313 as @ @ @ @ @ , 50 people , mostly with preexisting medical conditions , have died of the respiratory @ @ @ @ @ late last year .

(ATTN: MOVES photo; UPDATES figures in 4th para)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of passengers on public transportation in the capital city of Seoul tumbled more than 30 percent in the first week of this month from two months earlier amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, data showed Sunday.
According to the data by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the daily number of people who took subways and buses over the Monday-Friday period of last week decreased 34.5 from the day-to-day average in January.
The pace of decrease widened from a 30.9 percent drop tallied a week earlier.
Two passengers ride on the Seoul subway on March 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 infection case on Jan. 20, and the tally shot up to 7,313 as of Sunday. So far, 50 people, mostly with preexisting medical conditions, have died of the respiratory disease that originated in China late last year.
In Seoul, 120 people have tested positive for the virus so far, while 141 cases were confirmed in surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
The data showed that the daily traffic density for the first week of March in the capital city of 10 million also slipped 7.5 percent from the January average.
The drop in public transportation use came as citizens have refrained from outdoor activities out of fears over COVID-19 infection.
South Korea raised its virus alert to the highest level last month, with most public gatherings and events, including sports games, music concerts and religious services, put on hold.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(LEAD) S. Korea mulling sending chartered flight to bring nationals home from Iran

`` The South Korean Embassy in Iran is carrying out a survey on people there over whether they are willing @ @ @ @ @ flight , '' an official from the foreign ministry here said .

(ATTN: ADDS South Korea's virus data in last para)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is reviewing a plan to send a chartered flight to Iran to bring its citizens home from the coronavirus-hit Islamic country this week, government officials said Sunday.
The number of Iran's COVID-19 cases has reportedly risen to 5,823 with 145 deaths as of Saturday, raising concerns about the safety of Koreans in the country suffering a shortage of medicine and medical equipment.
It marks the third most coronavirus infections in the world, following China and South Korea.
"The South Korean Embassy in Iran is carrying out a survey on people there over whether they are willing to get aboard a chartered flight," an official from the foreign ministry here said.
He said the foreign ministry is in talks with the Tehran government to help its citizens come home within this week.
About 100 out of 220 South Korean residents in Iran are expected to take the flight, the official said.
A chartered Korean Air B747-400 with South Koreans from Wuhan lands at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on Feb. 1, 2020. The passenger jet brought back some 330 people from the Chinese city that has become the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
But due to the international sanctions against the Middle East country, Seoul is seeking ways to arrange a flight from a third country, instead of sending a flag carrier directly.
The entrants from Iran will undergo coronavirus tests, while those with symptoms of virus infection will be quarantined for about 14 days.
South Korea has airlifted its nationals from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus, and from the Diamond Princess, a quarantined cruise ship moored off the coast of Japan, last month.
South Korea evacuated nearly 900 South Koreans in Wuhan in three batches on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and Feb 12, and they were put under 14-day quarantines at facilities.
With only a few of the evacuees testing positive for the novel coronavirus, the rest of them were released from the designated facilities by Feb. 27.
The country also sent a presidential plane on Feb. 19 to bring six nationals and a Japanese spouse out of 14 South Koreans aboard the Japanese cruise ship. They were transported to a medical facility in the country for a 14-day quarantine.
As of Sunday, South Korea had reported a total of 7,313 confirmed coronavirus cases and 50 deaths since the deadly virus was first diagonosed on Jan. 20 here.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(2nd LD) 103 countries, territories restricting entry from S. Korea over coronavirus fears

Saudi Arabia was moved to this list as it now bars the entry of people who have been in Korea @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan in the past two weeks .
The Middle Eastern nation had imposed the ban @ @ @ @ @ a few others , whereas for Korea , it had only barred the entry of @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 2 paras)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- A total of 103 countries and territories were enforcing or planning to impose entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures on people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns, the foreign ministry said Sunday.
The tally, as of 6 p.m., remains unchanged from late Saturday's figure, but the number of countries and territories barring the entry of travelers from all of Korea rose by one to 37, according to the foreign ministry website.
Saudi Arabia was moved to this list as it now bars the entry of people who have been in Korea, Japan, Italy and Azerbaijan in the past two weeks. The Middle Eastern nation had imposed the ban for China, Taiwan and a few others, whereas for Korea, it had only barred the entry of tourists.
Six other countries were either planning to enforce or already imposing an entry ban on people who have been in two of Korea's southeastern areas -- Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province -- where the bulk of COVID-19 infections have occurred.
Some of them apply the ban to a few other nearby cities and counties as well, like the Maldives, which imposes the ban on Korea's second-largest city of Busan.
Starting Sunday, Indonesia is banning the entry of foreigners who have visited Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
Japan is set to adopt a temporary 14-day self-quarantine for people flying in from Korea and China from Monday and ask them to refrain from using public transport. Flights can only land at Narita International Airport near Tokyo and Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
A total of 15 countries and territories, including 18 Chinese provinces, are currently quarantining people from South Korea or other virus-affected countries at designated facilities.
The number of countries and territories imposing stricter immigration controls, such as a suspension on the issuance of arrival visas, or requiring or recommending self-quarantine stood at 45.
Of them, Cyprus has toughened the self-quarantine recommendation by conducting surveys and temperature checks on people, including its own citizens, coming from Korea, China and other virus-hit countries.
Tunisia also now places all foreigners flying in from Korea, China, Italy and Iran under a 14-day self-quarantine regardless of whether they show possible symptoms.
South Korea added 367 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday morning, bringing the nation's total number of infections to 7,134, with 50 deaths.
Meanwhile, a Seoul official defended the government's countermeaures in response to Japan's new entry restrictions against South Koreans as "restrained and principled."
The Seoul government said Friday it will halt a visa-free entry program for Japan and take other countermeasures in response to Tokyo's decision to impose new restrictions for South Korean visitors over coronavirus fears.
Tokyo announced that from March 9-31, visitors from South Korea and China will be asked to stay at designated facilities for two weeks and refrain from using public transportation. It also plans to suspend the 90-day visa-free entry program for South Koreans on Monday.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(5th LD) S. Korea's virus cases top 7,300 amid signs of infection slowdown

Currently , there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne .
The World Health Organization said the virus @ @ @ @ @ close contact .
One of the best ways to avoid contracting the virus is to @ @ @ @ @ soap for at least 20 seconds and avoid mass gatherings , health officials said .

(ATTN: ADDS 1st photo, health minister's comments in paras 4, 7-9)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections in South Korea continued to rise, with an additional 179 cases confirmed Sunday, bringing the total to 7,313.
The number of newly added confirmed cases is lower than 367 additional cases of COVID-19 released on Saturday, the slowest on-day gain since Feb. 26, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marked the first time in 11 days the number of new infections fell to below 400, possibly offering signs of containment.
In a press briefing held on Sunday afternoon, Health and Welfare Minister Park Neunghoo said South Korea's quarantine systems are working effectively to contain the spread of the new coronavirus and will become an exemplary case for other countries if the country successfully copes with the current crisis.
In this photo taken on March 8, 2020, Health and Welfare Minister Park Neunghoo delivers a briefing on the government's responses and plans to contain the spreading coronavirus outbreak at a government complex building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The additional 179 cases were confirmed over past 16 hours. Tallies for the entire day are made available the following day.
A majority of the new cases again came from the southeastern city of Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, the two epicenters of the virus outbreak that together account for more than 90 percent of all infection cases.
"The spreading pace of the respiratory illness in Daegu and the North Gyeongsang Province appears to be at an initial stage of slowing down," the minister said.
He said the country is capable of checking up to 17,000 people per day for the coronavirus and has tested a total of 190,000 people.
The government will increase the number of treatment facilities for the COVID-19 patients across the country to accommodate up to 4,000. As of Sunday, there are 10 treatment facilities that can accommodate 2,500 coronavirus patients, the ministry said.
This graphic image, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on March 8, 2020, shows daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Of the 367 new cases detected Saturday, 297 cases came from Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million that is located some 300 kilometers from Seoul.
About 60 percent of confirmed cases here have been linked to a Daegu branch of a religious sect, Shincheonji.
The total number of infection cases in Daegu now stands at 5,381.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the number of new cases may indicate a slowdown in the spread of the virus, noting the number of new cases in the city has dropped to below 300 for the first time since Feb. 29.
"The increase in the number of infection cases is showing signs of slowing down," he told a press briefing.
North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most severely hit areas, saw its infection cases rise 32 to 1,081, according to the KCDC.
But KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said it may be too soon to say that the spread of the virus could be on the wane, noting the recent decline in the number of new cases was largely because of a drop in the number of cases linked to the Sincheonji church in Daegu.
"The number of new patients is dwindling with the tests on the followers of the Shincheonji church nearly coming to an end," she told a press briefing.
The photo taken on March 8, 2020, shows quarantine workers checking people for symptoms of the novel coronavirus at a drive-through diagnosis center in Pohang, located some 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The number of infections traced to the religious sect is tallied at 4,482, accounting for 62.8 percent of the total cases here.
Jeong noted the rise in the number of virus patients could quickly accelerate if there is a new cluster of infection cases, which she said is still very much possible.
"We believe a fresh outbreak could be possible at any time in case the virus is exposed at group facilities or religious events because it is highly contagious," said Jeong, adding that 79.4 percent of all infections here have been linked to clusters of mass infection cases.
Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi Province reported 12 and 11 additional cases, respectively. Their totals now stand at 120 and 141, respectively.
South Korea raised its virus alert level to the highest on Feb. 23, enabling all-out quarantine measures by the health authorities as well as district governments.
A virus-hit apartment in Daegu has been under lockdown as one-third of its residents were confirmed to have contracted the illness.
The patients at the apartment complex were followers of the Shincheonji church.
The provincial government of North Gyeongsang Province said more than 580 facilities or houses in its own districts have been placed under such lockdowns.
So far, 50 people, mostly with preexisting medical conditions, have died of the respiratory disease that originated in China late last year.
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
This photo taken on March 7, 2020, shows an apartment complex in Daegu where 46 residents tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Earlier, an official from the health ministry was diagnosed with the coronavirus, leading to a temporary shutdown of the whole operation of at least the ministry office the patient worked at.
The ministry said on Sunday that 51 other officials from the same office have tested negative.
Still, at least 27 of those who had come in close contact with the patient have been told to take self-quarantine measures, it added.
The KCDC said the number of patients released from hospitals after recovering from the viral disease came to 130 as of Sunday, up 12 from the previous day.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 19,376 as of Sunday, down 244 from the day before, the KCDC said. The country has tested a total of 181,384 suspected cases, with 162,008 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact. One of the best ways to avoid contracting the virus is to wash one's hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and avoid mass gatherings, health officials said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(4th LD) S. Korea's virus cases top 7,300 amid signs of infection slowdown

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with latest figures for infection cases, minor changes in paras 2-6)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections in South Korea continued to rise, with an additional 179 cases confirmed Sunday, bringing the total to 7,313.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the country confirmed 367 additional cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the slowest on-day gain since Feb. 26.
It also marked the first time in 11 days the number of new infections fell to below 400, possibly offering signs of containment.
The additional 179 cases were confirmed over past 16 hours. Tallies for the entire day are made available the following day.
A majority of the new cases again came from the southeastern city of Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, the two epicenters of the virus outbreak that together account for more than 90 percent of all infection cases.
This graphic image, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on March 8, 2020, shows daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Of the 367 new cases detected Saturday, 297 cases came from Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million that is located some 300 kilometers from Seoul.
About 60 percent of confirmed cases here have been linked to a Daegu branch of a religious sect, Shincheonji.
The total number of infection cases in Daegu now stands at 5,381.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the number of new cases may indicate a slowdown in the spread of the virus, noting the number of new cases in the city has dropped to below 300 for the first time since Feb. 29.
"The increase in the number of infection cases is showing signs of slowing down," he told a press briefing.
North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most severely hit areas, saw its infection cases rise 32 to 1,081, according to the KCDC.
KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said it may be too soon to say that the spread of the virus could be on the wane, noting the recent decline in the number of new cases was largely because of a drop in the number of cases linked to the Sincheonji church in Daegu.
"The number of new patients is dwindling with the tests on the followers of the Shincheonji church nearly coming to an end," she told a press briefing.
The photo taken on March 8, 2020, shows quarantine workers checking people for symptoms of the novel coronavirus at a drive-through diagnosis center in Pohang, located some 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The number of infections traced to the religious sect is tallied at 4,482, accounting for 62.8 percent of the total cases here.
Jeong noted the rise in the number of virus patients could quickly accelerate if there is a new cluster of infection cases, which she said is still very much possible.
"We believe a fresh outbreak could be possible at any time in case the virus is exposed at group facilities or religious events because it is highly contagious," said Jeong, adding that 79.4 percent of all infections here have been linked to clusters of mass infection cases.
Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi Province reported 12 and 11 additional cases, respectively. Their totals now stand at 120 and 141, respectively.
South Korea raised its virus alert level to the highest on Feb. 23, enabling all-out quarantine measures by the health authorities as well as district governments.
A virus-hit apartment in Daegu has been under lockdown as one-third of its residents were confirmed to have contracted the illness.
The patients at the apartment complex were followers of the Shincheonji church.
The provincial government of North Gyeongsang Province said more than 580 facilities or houses in its own districts have been placed under such lockdowns.
So far, 50 people, mostly with preexisting medical conditions, have died of the respiratory disease that originated in China late last year.
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
This photo taken on March 7, 2020, shows an apartment complex in Daegu where 46 residents tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Earlier, an official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare was diagnosed with COVID-19, leading to a temporary shutdown of the whole operation of at least the ministry office the patient worked at.
The ministry said on Sunday that 51 other officials from the same office have tested negative.
Still, at least 27 of those who had come in close contact with the patient have been told to take self-quarantine measures, it added.
The KCDC said the number of patients released from hospitals after recovering from the viral disease came to 130 as of Sunday, up 12 from the previous day.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 19,376 as of Sunday, down 244 from the day before, the KCDC said. The country has tested a total of 181,384 suspected cases, with 162,008 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact. One of the best ways to avoid contracting the virus is to wash one's hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and avoid mass gatherings, health officials said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 179 more cases of coronavirus, total at 7,313

(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--2020-03-08--(LEAD) 103 countries, territories restricting entry from S. Korea over coronavirus fears

(ATTN: ADDS minor updates in paras 2-3)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- A total of 103 countries and territories were enforcing or planning to impose entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures on people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns, foreign ministry data showed Sunday.
The tally, as of 2 p.m., remains unchanged from late Saturday's figure, but the number of countries and territories barring the entry of travelers from all of Korea rose by one to 37, according to the foreign ministry website.
Saudi Arabia was moved to this list as it now bars the entry of people who have been in Korea, Japan, Italy and Azerbaijan in the past two weeks. The Middle Eastern nation had imposed the ban for China, Taiwan and a few others, whereas for Korea, it had only barred the entry of tourists.
Six other countries were either planning to enforce or already imposing an entry ban on people who have been in two of Korea's southeastern areas -- Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province -- where the bulk of COVID-19 infections have occurred -- in the past two weeks.
Some of them apply the ban to a few other nearby cities and counties as well, like the Maldives, which imposes the ban on Korea's second-largest city of Busan.
Starting Sunday, Indonesia is banning the entry of foreigners who have visited Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province in the past two weeks.
Japan is set to adopt a temporary 14-day self-quarantine for people flying in from Korea and China from Monday and ask them to refrain from using public transport. Flights can only land at Narita International Airport near Tokyo and Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
A total of 15 countries and territories, including 18 Chinese provinces, are currently quarantining people from South Korea or other virus-affected countries at designated facilities.
The number of countries and territories imposing stricter immigration controls, such as a suspension on the issuance of arrival visas, or requiring or recommending self-quarantine stood at 45.
Of them, Cyprus has toughened the self-quarantine recommendation by conducting surveys and temperature checks on people, including its own citizens, coming from Korea, China and other virus-hit countries.
Tunisia also now places all foreigners flying in from Korea, China, Italy and Iran under a 14-day self-quarantine regardless of whether they show possible symptoms.
South Korea added 367 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday morning, bringing the nation's total number of infections to 7,134, with 50 deaths.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(3rd LD) S. Korea's virus cases top 7,100 amid signs of infection slowdown

KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said it may be too soon to say that the spread of the virus could be @ @ @ @ @ the recent decline in the number of new cases was largely because of a drop @ @ @ @ @ linked to the Sincheonji church in Daegu .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, remarks from a KCDC official in paras 10-13; RECASTS paras 4, 6 and 14 to correct number of infection cases as revised by the KCDC)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea continued to see its number of new coronavirus infections rise on Sunday, with an additional 367 cases bringing its total to 7,134, but the rate of increase slowed to the lowest in over 10 days, offering cautious signs of containment.
The 367 new cases marked the slowest on-day gain since Feb. 26 and the first time in 11 days the number of new infections fell to below 400, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
A majority of the new cases again came from the southeastern city of Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, the two epicenters of the virus outbreak that together account for more than 90 percent of all infection cases.
This graphic image, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on March 8, 2020, shows daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Of the 367 new cases, which were detected Saturday, 297 cases came from Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million that is located some 300 kilometers from Seoul.
About 60 percent of confirmed cases here have been linked to a Daegu branch of a religious sect, Shincheonji.
Daegu's total infection cases now stand at 5,381.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the number of new cases may indicate a slowdown in the spread of the virus, noting the number of new cases in the city has dropped to below 300 for the first time since Feb. 29.
"The increase in the number of infection cases is showing signs of slowing down," he told a press briefing.
North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most severely hit areas, saw its infection cases rise 32 to 1,081, according to the KCDC.
KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said it may be too soon to say that the spread of the virus could be on the wane, noting the recent decline in the number of new cases was largely because of a drop in the number of cases linked to the Sincheonji church in Daegu.
"The number of new patients is dwindling with the tests on the followers of the Shincheonji church nearly coming to an end," she told a press briefing.
The photo taken on March 8, 2020, shows quarantine workers checking people for symptoms of the novel coronavirus at a drive-through diagnosis center in Pohang, located some 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The number of infections traced to the religious sect is tallied at 4,482, accounting for 62.8 percent of the total cases here.
Jeong noted the rise in the number of virus patients could quickly accelerate if there is a new cluster of infection cases, which she said is still very much possible.
"We believe a fresh outbreak could be possible at any time in case the virus is exposed at group facilities or religious events because it is highly contagious," said Jeong, adding that 79.4 percent of all infections here have been linked to clusters of mass infection cases.
Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi Province reported 12 and 11 additional cases, respectively. Their totals now stand at 120 and 141, respectively.
South Korea raised its virus alert level to the highest on Feb. 23, enabling all-out quarantine measures by the health authorities as well as district governments.
A virus-hit apartment in Daegu has been under lockdown as one-third of its residents were confirmed to have contracted the illness.
The patients at the apartment complex were followers of the Shincheonji church.
The provincial government of North Gyeongsang Province said more than 580 facilities or houses in its own districts have been placed under such lockdowns.
So far, 50 people, mostly with preexisting medical conditions, have died of the respiratory disease that originated in China late last year.
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
This photo taken on March 7, 2020, shows an apartment complex in Daegu where 46 residents tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Earlier, an official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare was diagnosed with COVID-19, leading to a temporary shutdown of the whole operation of at least the ministry office the patient worked at.
The ministry said on Sunday that 51 other officials from the same office have tested negative.
Still, at least 27 of those who had come in close contact with the patient have been told to take self-quarantine measures, it added.
The KCDC said the number of patients released from hospitals after recovering from the viral disease came to 130 as of Sunday, up 12 from the previous day.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 19,376 as of Sunday, down 244 from the day before, the KCDC said. The country has tested a total of 181,384 suspected cases, with 162,008 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact. One of the best ways to avoid contracting the virus is to wash one's hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and avoid mass gatherings, health officials said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--Public transportation use in Seoul sinks amid virus angst

SEOUL , March 8 ( Yonhap ) -- The number of passengers on public transportation in the capital city of @ @ @ @ @ percent in the first week of this month from two months earlier amid the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ data showed Sunday .

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of passengers on public transportation in the capital city of Seoul tumbled more than 30 percent in the first week of this month from two months earlier amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, data showed Sunday.
According to the data by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the daily number of people who took subways and buses over the Monday-Friday period of last week decreased 34.5 from the day-to-day average in January.
The pace of decrease widened from a 30.9 percent drop tallied a week earlier.
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 infection case on Jan. 20, and the tally shot up to 7,134 as of Sunday. In Seoul, 120 people have tested positive for the virus so far, while 141 cases were confirmed in surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
The data showed that the daily traffic density for the first week of March in the capital city of 10 million also slipped 7.5 percent from the January average.
The drop in public transportation use came as citizens have refrained from outdoor activities out of fears over COVID-19 infection.
South Korea raised its virus alert to the highest level last month, with most public gatherings and events, including sports games, music concerts and religious services, put on hold.
Two passengers ride on the Seoul subway on March 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--Korea's traffic deaths dip 11 pct in 2019

A total of 3,349 people died from car accidents in 2019 , down from 3,781 tallied a year earlier , @ @ @ @ @ the land and transport ministry and the National Police Agency .

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of traffic fatalities in South Korea fell 11.4 percent last year from a year earlier, data showed Sunday.
A total of 3,349 people died from car accidents in 2019, down from 3,781 tallied a year earlier, according to data compiled by the land and transport ministry and the National Police Agency.
The annual number of traffic deaths in the country has fallen steadily every year since 2015.
Among them, traffic fatalities involving pedestrians accounted for the biggest proportion at 38.9 percent.
The number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents last year stood at 1,302, down by 12.4 percent on-year from 1,487.
But the figure was still nearly triple the OECD average of 1.0 per 100,000, with 3.3 per 100,000 South Koreans dying from traffic accidents as pedestrians.
The deaths of those aged 65 or over reached 1,550 last year, accounting for 14.9 percent of the total traffic fatalities.
The police agency said it will continue to push ahead with policies prioritizing pedestrians and focus on protecting the elderly and children.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(2nd LD) S. Korea's virus cases top 7,100 amid signs of infection slowdown

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the number of new cases may indicate a slowdown in the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ new cases in the city has dropped to below 300 for the first time since @ @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead paras; UPDATES with more details in paras 7-8, 17-19)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea continued to see its number of new coronavirus infections rise on Sunday, with an additional 367 cases bringing its total to 7,134, but the rate of increase slowed to the lowest in over 10 days, offering cautious signs of containment.
The 367 new cases marked the slowest on-day gain since Feb. 26 and the first time in 11 days the number of new infections fell to below 400, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
A majority of the new cases again came from the southeastern city of Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, the two epicenters of the virus outbreak that together account for more than 90 percent of all infection cases.
This graphic image, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on March 8, 2020, shows daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Of the 367 new cases, which were detected Saturday, 294 cases came from Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million that is located some 300 kilometers from Seoul.
About 60 percent of confirmed cases here have been linked to a Daegu branch of a religious sect, Shincheonji.
Daegu's total infection cases now stands at 5,378.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the number of new cases may indicate a slowdown in the spread of the virus, noting the number of new cases in the city has dropped to below 300 for the first time since Feb. 29.
"The increase in the number of infection cases is showing signs of slowing down," he told a press briefing.
North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most severely hit areas, saw its infection cases rise 32 to 1,081, according to the KCDC.
Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi Province each reported 12 additional cases. Their totals now stand at 120 and 142, respectively.
The photo taken on March 8, 2020, shows quarantine workers checking people for symptoms of the novel coronavirus at a drive-through diagnosis center in Pohang, located some 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
South Korea raised its virus alert level to the highest on Feb. 23, enabling all-out quarantine measures by the health authorities as well as district governments.
A virus-hit apartment in Daegu has been under lockdown as one-third of its residents were confirmed to have contracted the illness.
The patients at the apartment complex were followers of the Shincheonji church.
The provincial government of North Gyeongsang Province said more than 580 facilities or houses in its own districts have been placed under such lockdowns.
So far, 50 people, mostly with preexisting medical conditions, have died of the respiratory disease that originated in China late last year.
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
This photo taken on March 7, 2020, shows an apartment complex in Daegu where 46 residents tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Earlier, an official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare was diagnosed with COVID-19, leading to a temporary shutdown of the whole operation of at least the ministry office the patient worked at.
The ministry said on Sunday that 51 other officials from the same office have tested negative.
Still, at least 27 of those who had come in close contact with the patient have been told to take self-quarantine measures, it added.
The KCDC said the number of patients released from hospitals after recovering from the viral disease came to 130 as of Sunday, up 12 from the previous day.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 19,376 as of Sunday, down 244 from the day before, the KCDC said. The country has tested a total of 181,384 suspected cases, with 162,008 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact. One of the best ways to avoid contracting the virus is to wash one's hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and avoid mass gatherings, health officials said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2018 -- The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games kick off at the Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang , Gangwon Province .
@ @ @ @ @ Paralympics ever , with 570 athletes competing for 49 nations and 80 gold medals up @ @ @ @ @ )

March 9
1965 -- South Korea establishes trade and culture ties with Italy.
1989 -- The first inter-Korean sports meeting is held at the border village of Panmunjom.
2000 -- President Kim Dae-jung visits Germany and announces the Berlin Declaration, in which South Korea agreed in principle to provide assistance to rebuild North Korea's economic infrastructure.
2004 -- South Korea's two main opposition parties submit a motion to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun. A total of 159 opposition lawmakers supported the motion.
2006 -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun holds a summit with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, and discloses details of his Africa initiative.
2009 -- North Korea severs an inter-Korean military communications channel in protest against a South Korea-U.S. war drill.
2016 -- Google's artificial intelligence (AI) program AlphaGo beats top-class South Korean Go player Lee Se-dol in the ancient board game as the self-learning machine stunned the world by taking the lead at the historic five-game man-versus-computer match.
2018 -- The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games kick off at the Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. It is the largest Winter Paralympics ever, with 570 athletes competing for 49 nations and 80 gold medals up for grabs.
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--Women's basketball league suspended for 2 weeks due to coronavirus

With the latest decision by the WKBL , all professional leagues in South Korea have come to a halt in @ @ @ @ @ of the novel COVID-19 virus .

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean women's basketball federation on Sunday decided to suspend its professional league for two weeks, joining other sports organizations in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) said the regular season will be put on hold, starting with a match scheduled for Tuesday. The WKBL has played its games behind closed doors for about two weeks.
It said it will check the situation thoroughly before resuming the league two weeks later.
South Korea has reported 7,134 virus patients and 50 deaths as of Sunday. The government raised the virus alert to the highest level last month amid a rapid increase in infections, asking its people to refrain from outdoor activities.
With the latest decision by the WKBL, all professional leagues in South Korea have come to a halt in the fallout from the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus.
The South Korean professional football league postponed the start of the 2020 season, which was originally set on Feb. 29, while the South Korean baseball league canceled all of its preseason games slated for mid-March.
The men's pro basketball league has been suspended since March 1, while the country's professional volleyball governing body ceased both men's and women's professional leagues from Tuesday last week.
The Samsung Life Bluemix and BNK Sum play a regular season game of the Women's Korean Basketball League without spectators at Yongin Gymnasium in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(LEAD) PM urges cooperation for 'smooth' mask distribution amid virus angst

Under the measure that will take effect Monday , citizens will be able to buy only two protective masks per @ @ @ @ @ designated days of the week , depending on the final number of their year of @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info throughout; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prime minister on Sunday called for citizens' cooperation to resolve the supply shortage of face masks and ensure smooth distribution amid growing public anger over the bungled supply scheme.
Under the measure that will take effect Monday, citizens will be able to buy only two protective masks per week from pharmacies, on designated days of the week, depending on the final number of their year of birth.
"To make the system smoothly operate, there is a desperate need for people to actively cooperate," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a televised message to the public.
"Even if you feel inconvenient, I ask you to show a mature sense of civil awareness, based on concessions, consideration and cooperation, so that people who really need face masks can buy them," he stressed.
The goal of the measure is to allow an even distribution of face masks amid a serious supply shortage, as many people have had to wait in long lines to purchase them through designated public channels.
Citizens wait in long lines in front of a pharmacy in Jongno, central Seoul, on March 6, 2020, to buy face masks provided by the government via public channels. (Yonhap)
On Feb. 25, South Korea decided to limit mask exports to a maximum of 10 percent of total output and distribute 50 percent through government and public organizations.
Despite the government's measures, citizens were waiting in long lines for hours to purchase a few masks via public channels, complaining about short supply.
Last week, the government decided to effectively ban mask exports and implement a new distribution system that restricts the supply of masks to two per person from five via public channels.
South Korea also unveiled a revised guideline that temporarily advises the reuse of cotton or disposable masks in environments with a low risk of infection.
South Korea reported 367 additional cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections here to 7,134.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun holds a meeting with government officials over the new coronavirus in the city hall of the southeastern city of Gyeongsan on March 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--S. Korea to spend 616 bln won on space projects in 2020

Some 318 billion won will be spent on a new medium-size satellite that will blast off in the second half @ @ @ @ @ well as the development of so-called constellation satellite project and two Korea Multi-purpose Satellites ( @ @ @

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to spend around 615.8 billion won (US$516.5 million) on space development projects this year as the country gears up to launch its first domestically-built rocket and next generation satellites, the science ministry said Sunday.
The investment is a 6.4-percent increase from 2019, with the earmarked budget to be focused on building up the country's capability to use space more effectively and bolster related industries, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Of the total, 233.1 billion won was set aside to conduct final tests and assemble a flight model of the Nuri launch vehicle that will be sent into orbit next year.
The three-stage vehicle uses the 75-ton thrust rocket engine designed and produced in the country, along with a smaller 7-ton engine.
Some 318 billion won will be spent on a new medium-size satellite that will blast off in the second half of this year, as well as the development of so-called constellation satellite project and two Korea Multi-purpose Satellites (KOMPSAT).
This file photo provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT, shows the domestically built 75-ton thrust rocket going through an engine test at the Naro Space Center, 485 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The medium satellite weighs some 500 kilograms and will be used in disaster response and the observation of farmlands, fisheries and urban development efforts.
The two KOMPSATs will augment three already in orbit with greater emphasis placed on better observational capabilities and sensors that can enhance services for users. One of the multi-purpose satellites will be launched next year.
South Korea will also complete detailed design work of its lunar orbiter probe this year, and take part in the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's commercial lunar payload service project.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Seoul stocks open sharply lower on U.S. losses, sinking oil prices

Oil plunged more than 20 percent after Saudi Arabia slashed its selling price .
The world 's top oil exporter @ @ @ @ @ production after the collapse of OPEC 's supply cut deal with Russia .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened sharply lower Monday, tracking losses on Wall Street, as investors rushed to safer assets amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak and falling oil prices.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price (KOSPI) Index plunged 59.23 points, or 2.9 percent, to 1,980.99 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The main index fell below the psychologically important 2,000-point level as investors braced for continuing virus angst and a plunge in global oil prices.
Oil plunged more than 20 percent after Saudi Arabia slashed its selling price. The world's top oil exporter is set to raise its production after the collapse of OPEC's supply cut deal with Russia.
But North Korea's firing of three unidentified projectiles off its east coast early on Monday is having little impact on local stocks, they said.
Foreigners and institutions sold a combined 210 billion won (US$176 million) worth of stocks, outpacing individuals' stock purchases valued at 205 billion won.
Most large-cap stocks declined across the board.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. fell 3.2 percent, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix Inc. declined 3.9 percent, top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. shed 3.2 percent and national flag carrier Korean Air Lines Co. was down 2.9 percent.
Among gainers, state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp. rose 4.3 percent and Lotte Chemical Corp. climbed 0.9 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,195.05 won against the U.S. dollar, down 2.75 won from the previous session's close.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , March 9 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 1,981.02 DN 59.20 points (open)


KOSDAQ 631.13 DN 11.59 points (open)


yna--2020-03-09--Dollar opens at 1,192.9 won UP from 1,192.3 won


yna--2020-03-09--Fire breaks out at Samsung chip plant, production unaffected

The fire apparently broke out at a wastewater treatment deodorizer facility at the plant , according to a Samsung official @ @ @ @ @ its production lines .

HWASEONG, South Korea, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday a fire at its semiconductor plant in South Korea will not affect its chip production.
A fire broke out at Samsung's chip plant in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, late Sunday night and was completely extinguished early Monday morning, according to fire authorities.
No casualties have been reported so far.
The fire apparently broke out at a wastewater treatment deodorizer facility at the plant, according to a Samsung official, but didn't damage its production lines.
The company said it will fully cooperate with fire authorities to examine the exact cause of the accident.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a Samsung Electronics Co.'s semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, on March 9, 2020. The fire, which broke out at around 11:18 p.m. the previous day, was brought under control around 12:06 a.m., with no one hurt in the incident. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Under virus uncertainty, foreign players for S. Korean baseball clubs to train in home countries

`` The LG Twins have been extremely supportive of our wishes , and we collectively decided that the best plan @ @ @ @ @ our home countries and be with our family and prepare for the season there , @ @ @ @ @ video clip posted on the Twins ' YouTube channel .
`` We think that it @ @ @ @ @ with our family right now .
And when the league announces ( the regular season @ @ @ @ @ to the Opening Day , we 're going to return to Korea and prepare as @ @ @ @ @ to begin . ''

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- With a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the start of the professional baseball season in virus-hit South Korea, teams' foreign players will train in their home countries for the time being.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs have been scrambling to close their overseas training camps in the past week or so, with more and more countries applying travel restrictions on South Koreans following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Samsung Lions and the LG Twins have returned from Japan. The KT Wiz and the Hanwha Eagles will make their way back from Arizona this week, while the Kiwoom Heroes will return from Chinese Taipei.
All five of these teams -- accounting for half the league -- have decided to send their foreign players home. Because of the virus outbreak, the KBO canceled all preseason games, originally set to run from March 14 to 24 and could also postpone the start of the regular season.
Members of the LG Twins baseball team walk through Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, on March 7, 2020, after returning from their spring training in Japan. (Yonhap)
The new season is supposed to begin on March 28, but the KBO will meet with club presidents Tuesday to discuss potential changes to the schedule.
For the five aforementioned teams, their foreign players will return to South Korea two weeks before the start of the regular season. All other professional leagues have come to a halt in the country, and the KBO will likely follow suit and delay the start of its season.
For the Lions, pitchers Ben Lively and David Buchanan, and infielder Tyler Saladino flew back to the United States on Sunday, while the rest of the team came back to South Korea.
The Twins sent pitchers Tyler Wilson and Casey Kelly to the U.S., while infielder Robert Ramos went back to Mexico.
"The LG Twins have been extremely supportive of our wishes, and we collectively decided that the best plan is to go back to our home countries and be with our family and prepare for the season there," Wilson said in a video clip posted on the Twins' YouTube channel. "We think that it's really important to be with our family right now. And when the league announces (the regular season schedule) two weeks prior to the Opening Day, we're going to return to Korea and prepare as a unit for the season to begin."
This file photo provided by the Samsung Lions baseball club on Feb. 26, 2020, shows their right-hander David Buchanan in action in an intrasquad spring training game at Onna Akama Ball Park in Okinawa, Japan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Heroes will come home from Chinese Taipei on Tuesday without pitchers Jake Brigham and Eric Jokisch, and utility player Taylor Motter, all of whom went back to America.
The Eagles set up their camp in Mesa, Arizona, and their two import pitchers, Warwick Saupold and Chad Bell, and outfielder Jared Hoying will remain in the U.S.
The Wiz trained in Tucson, Arizona, and outfielder Mel Rojas Jr., and pitchers William Cuevas and Odrisamer Despaigne will stay put while their South Korean teammates come home later Monday.
Of the remaining KBO teams, the Doosan Bears and the NC Dinos have arrived back from Japan and the U.S., respectively, with all of their foreign players.
The entire SK Wyverns squad will come home from Florida on Tuesday, with the exception of infielder Jamie Romak, who will travel to Canada for the birth of his child. He's expected to rejoin the Wyverns around the weekend.
The Kia Tigers and the Lotte Giants extended their camps after the preseason was wiped out. The Tigers will come home from Fort Myers, Florida, in two groups, on Sunday and next Monday. The Giants are scheduled to return from Adelaide, Australia, on March 17.
For now, they plan to bring back their foreign players.
This file photo provided by the Lotte Giants baseball club on March 4, 2020, shows their shortstop Dixon Machado in the dugout during an intrasquad spring training game in Adelaide, Australia. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(2nd LD) N. Korea fires 3 unidentified projectiles toward East Sea: JCS

In its New Year 's Day message , Pyongyang warned it will show off a `` new strategic weapon '' @ @ @ @ @ Experts said the `` strategic weapon '' may mean an advanced type of its intercontinental @ @ @ @ @ or a submarine-launched ballistic missile ( SLBM ) .

(ATTN: ADDS background in paras 4, 6-8)
By Oh Seok-min and Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired three unidentified projectiles into the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, a week after the communist regime fired two short-range projectiles.
The projectiles were fired northeastward from areas near its eastern town of Sondok in South Hamgyong Province, the JCS said in a brief release. Other details, including their type, flight range and altitude, were not immediately available.
"Our military is monitoring the situation in case of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said.
Sondok is where the North conducted the first known test of its super-large multiple rocket launcher in August. Last year, the North test-launched missiles 13 times amid the stalled denuclearization talks with the United States.
Last Monday, the communist country fired two projectiles from a super-large multiple rocket launcher after a three-month hiatus. It was believed to be part of its artillery strike drill for the wintertime exercise.
Pyongyang could have tested the super-large multiple rocket launcher system again, possibly to reduce the firing intervals for operational deployment.
The latest firings came just five days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a personal letter to President Moon Jae-in and wished him and other South Koreans good health amid the massive outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Such a conciliatory gesture came as a surprise as Kim's younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, had issued a statement just the previous day blasting Moon's office as "gangster-like" and "foolish" for complaining about Pyongyang's recent projectile launches.
In its New Year's Day message, Pyongyang warned it will show off a "new strategic weapon" in the near future. Experts said the "strategic weapon" may mean an advanced type of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
A projectile is launched during a long-range artillery drill by the North Korean army's long-range artillery sub-units on March 2, 2020, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the drill. The report came one day after South Korea said the North fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--2 S. Korean big league pitchers to make spring starts this week

Kim , a top-end starter for most of his 13-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization ( KBO ) , @ @ @ @ @ willing to pitch out of the bullpen if necessary .
The Cardinals could give him @ @ @ @ @ given the absence of veteran left-hander Andrew Miller , who is dealing with a mysterious @ @ @ @ @ is doubtful for Opening Day .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays and Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals will both make their second spring training starts this week in Florida.
Ryu will take on the Tampa Bay Rays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, at 1:07 p.m. Monday (local time) when it is 2:07 a.m. Tuesday in South Korea.
Kim and the Cardinals will visit the Minnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, with the first pitch scheduled at 1:05 p.m. Monday in Florida, or 2:05 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul.
In this file photo from Feb. 27, 2020, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays prepares for a spring training start against the Minnesota Twins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. (Yonhap)
Ryu made his spring training debut on Feb. 27 against the Twins and then threw a simulated, intrasquad game against Blue Jays' minor leaguers last Wednesday. Both of those games came at the Blue Jays' spring training home in Dunedin, Florida. Ryu chose not to travel a couple of hours south to Port Charlotte to take on the Rays last week and pitched in the sim game instead.
He threw 41 pitches in his first appearance over two innings, giving up a run on three hits, including a solo home run. Then in the simulated appearance, Ryu made 50 pitches across 3 2/3 innings, and allowed a run on three hits and a walk. He struck out seven.
Ryu, the reigning major league ERA champion, has been known for unique routines -- he doesn't throw between starts, for one -- and throughout camp, the Blue Jays have been willing to give him as much leeway as he needs to get ready for the season at his own pace.
Ryu will likely get two more starts after this one. Barring injury, he will be the Jays' Opening Day starter against the Boston Red Sox on March 26 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Kim, who's fighting for a rotation spot with the Cardinals, will look to extend his scoreless innings streak in his fourth spring training outing.
In this file photo from Feb. 26, 2020, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals runs to cover first base against the Miami Marlins in a spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. (Yonhap)
In one start and two relief appearances so far, Kim has pieced together five shutout innings, with seven strikeouts against one walk and three hits.
His most recent outing came out of the bullpen last Thursday against the New York Mets, and he pitched around three singles and struck out two in two scoreless frames.
Last week was particularly hectic for Kim. He was initially scheduled to start Monday but was scratched because of mild groin soreness. He threw a successful bullpen session later that day, and the Cardinals had him lined up to start Thursday and throw three innings or 50 pitches.
But on the eve of the scheduled start, the Cardinals said veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright would get the start instead, with Kim to immediately follow him for two innings.
The Cardinals said Kim will throw three innings or 45 pitches against the Twins. He made 25 pitches last Thursday.
Kim, a top-end starter for most of his 13-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), has said he'd be willing to pitch out of the bullpen if necessary. The Cardinals could give him some looks as a reliever given the absence of veteran left-hander Andrew Miller, who is dealing with a mysterious ailment with his arm and is doubtful for Opening Day.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(LEAD) N. Korea fires 3 unidentified projectiles toward East Sea: JCS

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS more info, JCS comment in paras 2, 3)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired three unidentified projectiles into the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, a week after the communist regime fired two short-range projectiles.
The projectiles were fired northeastward from areas near its eastern town of Sondok in Hamgyong Province, the JCS said in a brief release. Other details, including their type, flight range and altitude, were not immediately available.
"Our military is monitoring the situation in case of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said.
Last Monday, the communist country fired two projectiles from a super-large multiple rocket launcher after a three-month hiatus. It was believed to be part of its artillery strike drill for the wintertime exercise.
Last year, the North test-launched missiles 13 times amid the stalled denuclearization talks with the United States.
In its New Year's Day message, Pyongyang warned it will show off a "new strategic weapon" in the near future. Experts said the "strategic weapon" may mean an advanced type of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
A projectile is launched during a long-range artillery drill by the North Korean army's long-range artillery sub-units on March 2, 2020, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the drill. The report came one day after South Korea said the North fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(URGENT) N.K. fires 3 projectiles toward East Sea from eastern city of Sondok: JCS


yna--2020-03-09--N. Korea fires at least 1 unidentified projectile: JCS

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired at least one unidentified projectile Monday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, a week after the communist regime fired two apparent short-range ballistic missiles.
No other details were immediately available, including how many projectiles were fired, where the launch occurred and where it or they landed.
Last Monday, the communist country fired two projectiles from a super-large multiple rocket launcher after a three-month hiatus. It was believed to be part of its artillery strike drill for the wintertime exercise.
Last year, the North test-launched missiles 13 times amid the stalled denuclearization talks with the United States.
In its New Year's Day message, Pyongyang warned it will show off a "new strategic weapon" in the near future. Experts said the "strategic weapon" may mean an advanced type of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
A projectile is launched during a long-range artillery drill by the North Korean army's long-range artillery sub-units on March 2, 2020, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the drill. The report came one day after South Korea said the North fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(URGENT) N. Korea fires at least 1 unidentified projectile: JCS

(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--2020-03-09--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on March 9)

We wonder what mistakes were made by Daegu citizens .
The pro-government podcaster rubbed salt in their wounds with his @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
A bigger problem is that this kind of outrageous comment is nothing new @ @ @ @ @ member of the Youth Committee in the ruling Democratic Party ( DP ) posted a @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You can leave Daegu alone .
I can not understand why Daegu citizens @ @ @ @ @ President Moon Jae-in though they vote for the opposition United Future Party in elections , @ @ @ @ @ It would be O.K .
if the virus infections do not spread to other regions @ @ @ @ @ regardless of a rapid surge in the number of infections in the region . ''
@ @ @ @ @ trust in Moon grew deeper thanks to his effort to protect other regions .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ Hong Ihk-pyo stepped down after stirring controversy when he mentioned `` containment of Daegu and @ @ @ @ @ level . ''

Scapegoat politics
Provocative podcaster Kim Eo-jun made bombshell remarks again. On "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," a program he runs on TBS Radio, Kim blamed the new coronavirus crisis on the city of Daegu and followers of the Shincheonji church. "As of yesterday, one out of 560 Daegu citizens got infected with the coronavirus, Covid-19. If the current pace continues, one out of 300 to 400 citizens will be infected with the virus next week," he said. "If China is really responsible for the spread of the virus, why is only one out of 100,000 people in the Seoul metropolitan confirmed infected? The numbers tell the truth."
We are dumbfounded at his twisted logic. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China. The number of patients in China has already exceeded 80,000. If the Moon Jae-in administration had banned the entry of travelers from China in the initial stages, Covid-19 would not have penetrated this country.
We wonder what mistakes were made by Daegu citizens. The pro-government podcaster rubbed salt in their wounds with his nonsensical framing of an evolving crisis. A bigger problem is that this kind of outrageous comment is nothing new. For instance, a member of the Youth Committee in the ruling Democratic Party (DP) posted a shocking comment on the internet. "You can leave Daegu alone. I cannot understand why Daegu citizens make so many demands to President Moon Jae-in though they vote for the opposition United Future Party in elections," he said. "It would be O.K. if the virus infections do not spread to other regions than Daegu and North Gyeongsang regardless of a rapid surge in the number of infections in the region." He also wrote that his trust in Moon grew deeper thanks to his effort to protect other regions. Earlier, ruling party spokesperson Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo stepped down after stirring controversy when he mentioned "containment of Daegu and North Gyeongsang to a maximum level."
South Korea is suffering in its battle against the disease. The most distressed are people in Daegu and North Gyeongsang, where the infections are concentrated. Mentioning a "containment of the city" in such dire circumstances is not only a straightforward insult of Daegu citizens but also a mean attack designed to consolidate support among other regions ahead of the April 15 parliamentary elections. It is not the time for the ruling party or pro-government figures to try to find a political scapegoat. Everyone knows exactly what caused this crisis.
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on March 9)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on March 9)

Under the changed law , however , mobility platform operators will be allowed to provide those services only for tourism @ @ @ @ @ subject to restrictions on service hours and locations .
The amendment stipulates that vehicles should @ @ @ @ @ six hours .
It will also allow the outsourcing of drivers only when vehicles are @ @ @ @ @ .

Setback to innovation
Changed law virtually bans ride-hailing service
The National Assembly's passage of a revision to the Passenger Transport Service Act has dealt a severe blow to the fledgling innovative ride-hailing service industry. This legislation no doubt is designed to put a virtual ban on Tada, an increasingly popular mobility platform operator with 1.7 million users.
On Friday, the Assembly approved the amendment aimed at imposing new regulations on ride-hailing service providers such as Tada. The revised law will go into effect a year after it is proclaimed. A six-month grace period will be given to ensure smooth implementation.
Tada, meaning "to ride" in Korean, began offering ride-hailing services with 11-seat vans via a smartphone app in October 2018. It is now synonymous with innovation. The current law bars any business from providing paid ride services with rented vehicles attached with a driver. However Tada is taking advantage of a clause that enables a mobility platform operator to rent 11-15 seat vans and arrange for drivers.
Under the changed law, however, mobility platform operators will be allowed to provide those services only for tourism purposes. They will be subject to restrictions on service hours and locations. The amendment stipulates that vehicles should be rented for at least six hours. It will also allow the outsourcing of drivers only when vehicles are returned at airports and seaports.
For these reasons, the legislation is seen as nothing but a ban on Tada. Furthermore, it will stifle innovation in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and deprive consumers of their right to enjoy innovative services. More seriously, adding more regulations to the passenger transport industry runs counter to President Moon Jae-in's policy of promoting "innovative growth."
In a nutshell, the country is taking a step backward, not forward, in promoting innovation as well as future-oriented new industries and services. Lawmakers and government officials stressed that the revision was aimed at permitting mobility platform operators to do business within legal boundaries. The new law calls on these operators to register for licenses, contribute money to a fund to compensate the taxi industry and be subject to an aggregate ceiling in the number of taxis.
We have to interpret the legislation as a politically motivated move to appease the country's 300,000 taxi drivers and their families before the April 15 general election. That is why most taxi drivers welcomed the passage of the bill. But Lee Jae-woong, head of car-sharing app operator SoCar, which owns Tada, strongly denounced the revision for stifling innovation and bringing an end to new services. He even threatened to stop Tada's operation.
Lee must have felt deep frustration at the legislation, not least because it came after a Seoul Court ruled in favor of the Tada service as a legitimate rental car service operator Feb. 9. The court turned down the prosecution's claims that Tada had unlawfully conducted a call taxi business without a license. Many people had expected the ruling to have positive legal implications on the revision.
However, the Assembly reneged on such an expectation. This means a failure to solve the conflict of interest between traditional taxi operators and emerging innovative ride-hailing service providers through dialogue and compromise. It is regrettable to see the Assembly protecting a conventional industry by sacrificing innovation.
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on March 9)

Though the measures taken by Tokyo apply to travelers not only from Korea but also China till the end of @ @ @ @ @ regrettable that Japan effectively barred entry without any prior notice to or consultation with Seoul.Korea @ @ @ @ @ proximity , and human exchanges are heavy .
They should have sought reasonable and efficient @ @ @ @ @ of the virus together , but there were no such efforts .

Avoid emotional battle
Seoul reacts to Tokyo's restrictions, while silent at China and others
South Korea took countermeasures to entry restrictions that Japan placed on travelers from here after a surge in novel coronavirus cases.
Japan, on Thursday. imposed a two-week quarantine on all visitors from Korea. It also revoked some visas and suspended the visa-waiver program.
The next day, Seoul announced it will end visa-free entry for Japanese citizens and suspended the validity of visas already issued.
Though the measures taken by Tokyo apply to travelers not only from Korea but also China till the end of this month, it is regrettable that Japan effectively barred entry without any prior notice to or consultation with Seoul.Korea and Japan are in close proximity, and human exchanges are heavy. They should have sought reasonable and efficient ways to contain the spread of the virus together, but there were no such efforts.
Japan's response to the virus was problematic from the beginning. Like Korea, Japan did not restrict entry from the whole of China, either, even as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Japan rose past 1,000, including cases on a cruise ship.
The Japanese people were disappointed at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's response to the COVID-19 outbreak and are worried about the possible postponement of the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games slated for July. Abe may have needed to turn public opinion in his favor.
Japan's announcement of its latest steps came shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan was postponed. This raises speculation that Japan held back from barring entry from China as a whole out of political considerations for Xi's visit.
Abe may have sought to boost his popularity by stimulating anti-Korean sentiment as well as taking steps to stem the influx of infection sources. This may be the reason why it took measures without prior notice.
On the other hand, Japan's abrupt measures raise concerns about Korea's diplomacy toward Japan. Given a surge of confirmed infections in Korea, a looming possibility of the delay of the Olympics and an increase in the number of countries that restrict entry from Korea, it was not difficult to expect Japan to take similar restrictions on entry sooner or later. The government under President Moon Jae-in needs to review whether it has alienated Japan diplomatically.
More than 100 countries restrict the entry of all travelers from Korea. Out of its top 10 export markets, nine except the U.S. limit entry from Korea. They took such steps as Korea has the second-largest number of confirmed infections in the world.
Some provincial governments of China began to quarantine travelers from Korea shortly after it raised the virus crisis alert to the highest level. The quarantine was forced without prior notice or consultation. Beijing says it has little to do with the measures, saying that is implemented by provincial authorities, not by the central government. The Moon administration did not take reciprocal measures.
It did not take countermeasures, either, to other countries that limit the entry of visitors from Korea. It hit back only against Japan. Korea would find it hard to refute criticisms that its countermeasures lack equity.
Probably more serious is the fact that the U.S., Korea's key ally and superpower, has been escalating its response to the spread of the coronavirus.
The U.S. State Department raised the travel advisory for Daegu to Level 4 late last month, warning its citizens to "not travel" to the southeastern city of Korea.
If Washington bars entry to travelers from Korea, other countries will likely follow suit. U.S.-Korea trade will shrink, putting the do0mestic economy in a big crunch.
Korea countered Japan's effective entry ban with reciprocal measures, but an emotional battle or extreme confrontation will be only detrimental to both sides.
The fundamental solution is to contain the diffusion of COVID-19 outbreak as quickly as possible.
But while Japan began to restrict the entry of visitors from China, Korea still kept its doors open to China except for Hubei. Some say it is meaningless, and too late, as Japan did now because the number of confirmed infections has already topped 7,000. Concerns about being isolated have not abated. Something went wrong from the start.
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Health authorities still 'one step behind ' ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- Abe hits S. Korea again @ @ @ @ @ Kookmin Daily ) -- 'Patient breaths excessively fast , there is no time to hesitate @ @ @ @ @ -- Mask of caring : I am giving up my mask for you ( Seoul @ @ @ @ @ , anthropophobia , people in need of 'psychological quarantine ' ( Segye Times ) -- @ @ @ @ @ independent investigative agency nominated for outside director of local bank ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- @ @ @ @ @ York declares state of emergency ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Ran out of supplies , @ @ @ @ @ 's 24 hours of virus fight ( Hankyoreh ) -- As sales hit 'zero , @ @ @ @ @ part-time morning delivery work ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- Wall Street , Hong Kong now @ @ @ @ @ terror attack , SARS ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- Let 's judge lawmakers who @ @ @ @ @ Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on March 9.
Korean-language dailies
-- Health authorities still 'one step behind' (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- Abe hits S. Korea again to conceal quarantine failure (Kookmin Daily)
-- 'Patient breaths excessively fast, there is no time to hesitate' (Donga llbo)
-- Mask of caring: I am giving up my mask for you (Seoul Shinmun)
-- Infection concerns, anthropophobia, people in need of 'psychological quarantine' (Segye Times)
-- Head of preparation body for independent investigative agency nominated for outside director of local bank (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Milan on lockdown, New York declares state of emergency (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Ran out of supplies, energy: inside Daegu nurse's 24 hours of virus fight (Hankyoreh)
-- As sales hit 'zero,' self-employed forced to do part-time morning delivery work (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Wall Street, Hong Kong now looking at manuals of 9/11 terror attack, SARS (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Let's judge lawmakers who stopped Tada in election (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- New coronavirus infections fall to 272 (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- New infections drop, but Seoul stays on alert for new clusters (Korea Herald)
-- Virus hits nursing homes, retirement complexes hard (Korea Times)
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-03-08--(LEAD) Lotte unit offers voluntary retirement due to losses

Last month , Lotte Shopping Co. , the operator of the country 's biggest department store chain , said it @ @ @ @ @ 30 percent , of its 700 brick-and-mortar stores , including department stores , discount stores @ @ @ @ @ country to shore up its falling profit and strengthen the e-commerce business .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS 2nd photo, details in 7th para)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- Lotte Himart Co., South Korea's leading home appliance store chain, said Sunday it will offer a voluntary retirement program to its employees due to deepening losses.
Some 80 employees who have worked for the company for more than 25 years and are aged 50 or older are eligible for the voluntary retirement schemes, a Lotte Himart spokesman said.
The company plans to provide those who agree to retire early with severance pay according to their overall working years, a sizable compensation and a "support fund" to help them start a business or seek a new job, he said.
Lotte Himart shifted to a net loss of 99.9 billion won (US$84 million) in 2019 from a net profit of 85.5 billion won a year earlier as customers increasingly chose to buy products online over visiting stores.
This photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020, shows Lotte Himart's outlet in Jamsil, eastern Seoul. (Yonhap)
Operating profit plunged 41 percent to 109.9 billion won last year from 186.5 billion won. Sales fell 2.1 percent to 4.03 trillion won from 4.11 trillion won during the same period.
The spreading coronavirus outbreak is expected to further weigh on sales of Lotte Himart, at least in the coming months. South Korea had reported a total of 7,313 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths as of Sunday.
Lotte Himart operates 466 outlets across the country.
Other Lotte Group affiliates already announced measures to cope with lower demand amid rapidly changing customer appetites and growing uncertainties.
Last month, Lotte Shopping Co., the operator of the country's biggest department store chain, said it will sell 200, or 30 percent, of its 700 brick-and-mortar stores, including department stores, discount stores and supermarkets, across the country to shore up its falling profit and strengthen the e-commerce business.
Lotte Shopping's net losses widened to 853.56 billion won in 2019 from 464.99 billion won a year earlier.
Emart Inc., the country's largest discount store chain operator, saw its net profit plunge 53 percent to 223.8 billion won from 478.6 billion won during the cite period.
This photo taken on Feb. 25, 2020, and provided by Lotte Shopping shows a Lotte Department Store chain that houses a Lotte Mart outlet in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-08--S. Korea reports 5 more African swine fever cases in wild boars

North Korea reported its first outbreak of ASF at a pig farm near its border with China in May last @ @ @ @ @ cases so far in South Korea have been reported in border areas .

SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- An environment agency said Sunday it has found five more wild boars infected with the deadly African swine fever (ASF) virus in areas near the inter-Korean border. The discoveries raised the number of wild boar infections in the country to 325.
The five carcasses were found in border areas, including in the counties of Paju, Gunnae, and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul, according to a research institute affiliated with the environment ministry.
South Korea confirmed its first-ever outbreak of the animal disease in September last year. Although no additional ASF cases on farms have been reported since early October, authorities continue to discover dead wild boars carrying the disease.
Different from other animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, which is airborne, the African swine fever spreads through direct contact with infected animals or their remains, according to experts.
North Korea reported its first outbreak of ASF at a pig farm near its border with China in May last year, and all confirmed cases so far in South Korea have been reported in border areas.
As part of preventive measures, the authorities have culled about 400,000 pigs. Currently, no vaccines or cures exist.
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(3rd LD) 106 countries, territories restricting entry from virus-hit S. Korea

Lee said that the high number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea is rather a testament to the Korean government @ @ @ @ @ '' diagnostic screenings , and that Seoul has strictly controlled any possible outflow of the @ @ @ @ @ conducting fever checks on all outbound passengers and barring anyone who has been in close @ @ @ @ @ going abroad .

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest numbers in paras 2, 6)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Two more countries have joined the list of countries and territories imposing entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures on people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns, putting the tally at 106, foreign ministry data showed Monday.
As of 6 p.m., Grenada and Barbados, island nations in the Caribbean, were added to the list of 47 countries and territories requiring or recommending self-quarantine and imposing stricter immigration controls for people who have been in Korea at least in the past two weeks, according to the ministry website.
Thirty-eight countries and territories barred the entry of travelers from all of Korea, including Oman, which was moved to the list late Sunday as it toughened the restriction from a 14-day home quarantine.
Japan has expanded its entry ban to seven other regions in Korea that are located near Daegu city and Cheongdo County -- the two epicenters of the COVID-19 outbreaks here -- along with a temporary suspension of no-visa entry programs and other toughened quarantine procedures.
Five other countries were implementing similar partial entry bans for Korea and other virus-affected countries.
A total of 15 countries and territories, including 21 Chinese provinces, are currently quarantining people from South Korea or other virus-affected countries at designated facilities.
Sri Lanka was added to this list late Sunday as it was set to quarantine foreigners flying in from Korea, Iran and Italy starting Monday at noon. The Chinese province of Henan has also joined the list.
As of early Monday, 1,634 South Koreans were being quarantined around the world, a foreign ministry official told reporters. Of them, 1,149 people were in China and 451 others were in Vietnam.
In a briefing for foreign reporters, Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho renewed Seoul's calls for countries to reconsider restrictive measures against visitors from Korea.
Lee said that the high number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea is rather a testament to the Korean government's "thorough and rapid" diagnostic screenings, and that Seoul has strictly controlled any possible outflow of the virus through such measures as conducting fever checks on all outbound passengers and barring anyone who has been in close contact with confirmed patients from going abroad.
On Sunday, South Korea added 248 new infections cases, bringing the total tally to 7,382, with 51 deaths.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(2nd LD) U.S. Army restricts travel to, from S. Korea over new coronavirus

Related to all measures being taken , military sources said that U.S. troops have been allowed to wear face masks @ @ @ @ @ .
In the past , soldiers in uniform were barred from wearing masks , although @ @ @ @ @ 2019 as the country struggled with fine dust air pollution .

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest case tally in para 4-5; ADDS USFK decision to allow personnel to wear masks in para 7)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of the Army has ordered its soldiers and their families to stop movement to and from South Korea amid concerns over the new coronavirus, according to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
The order, which will be in effect until May 6 or until further notice, currently applies only to 8th Army soldiers on permanent change of station orders or attending professional military education scheduled in the United States, USFK said in a statement.
"USFK is analyzing the impacts this decision will have on those affected," it said.
The announcement came after a Korean employee at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, tested positive for the new virus last week. That was the first infection reported in Camp Humphreys, where the USFK headquarters is located.
Another Korean worker at Camp Walker in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was confirmed to be infected later in the day. The total number of USFK-infected cases currently stands at eight.
USFK remains on "high" risk level peninsula-wide and is implementing all appropriate control measures to help mitigate the spread of the virus to protect the force, it said.
Related to all measures being taken, military sources said that U.S. troops have been allowed to wear face masks indoors starting late last month. In the past, soldiers in uniform were barred from wearing masks, although this was eased in April 2019 as the country struggled with fine dust air pollution.
As of midnight, South Korea had reported 7,478 virus patients, including 51 deaths.
A military guard at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, checks the temperature of a driver to screen entrants to the compound for the novel coronavirus on Feb. 28, 2020, in this photo provided by United States Forces Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(3rd LD) Virus patients to face fines over info concealment

Health authorities and hospital officials said they are looking into the patient 's records and CCTV footage to check anyone @ @ @ @ @ .
The hospital identified 150-160 people who may have come in contact with the woman @ @ @ @ @ for the infection so far .
This includes two people who used the same hosital @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: UPDATES latest figures in penultimate para; ADDS details in paras 7, 12)
SEOUL/SEJONG, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities warned Monday that any new coronavirus patients will face fines for concealing their travel history, residences and other important information.
The measure comes as a 78-year-old patient at a Seoul hospital was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday. But despite repeated inquiries, the virus patient misled the hospital staff and gave incorrect information about her residence and other details.
The patient, a resident in the southeastern city of Daegu -- the epicenter of the virus outbreak here -- also denied her multiple trips to the city during hospitalization.
Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital in downtown Seoul has temporarily closed its emergency room since Sunday.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on March 9, 2020, about the spread of the new coronavirus that has hit the country.
"The government can impose fines under 10 million won if patients do not tell the truth about their travel history to health authorities," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a daily briefing. The amount is equivalent to US$8,296.
According to the hospital, the patient hid her residence as she was previously denied entry to another general hospital in Seoul.
Health authorities and hospital officials said they are looking into the patient's records and CCTV footage to check anyone who had contact with her. The hospital identified 150-160 people who may have come in contact with the woman, with 120 testing negative for the infection so far. This includes two people who used the same hosital room as the confirmed patient.
All medical staff and doctors who had previous contact are currently under self-quarantine, according to the hospital.
"Tests for the COVID-19 virus are conducted on any patient or medical staff suspected of having been in contact with the confirmed patient for the safety of all patients and staff," Oh Sang-hoon, a director at Paik Hospital, said.
Kim said the government will take administrative measures against hospitals that deny patients from Daegu without clear medical reasons.
Police and hospital officials are seen at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital in central Seoul on March 9, 2020. The hospital was closed after a patient from Daegu was diagnosed with COVID-19. (Yonhap)
In a written statement to reporters, National Police Agency chief Min Gab-ryong said police are looking into the case and will "swiftly and sternly" deal with any irregularities.
The police have so far received over 10,000 reports relating to the virus, according to Min. They are probing 20 cases that allegedly threatened public health, including 11 cases of people who ignored the government's self-isolation advisory.
In a separate press briefing, Seoul city government's civil health bureau director, Na Baeg-ju, said the city will look into the case and seek legal advice.
Na added that the patient did not show typical symptoms of the virus, such as fever.
The country had reported a total of 7,478 virus cases as of Monday, with an additional 96 cases identified between midnight Sunday and 4 p.m.
So far, 51 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the KCDC said.
khj@yna.co.kr
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(LEAD) S. Korea's Olympic football qualifying matches rescheduled for June

These matches were initially scheduled for March 6 in South Korea and March 11 in China .
The Chinese leg @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 concerns .
Then the South Korean host city of Yongin declined to @ @ @ @ @ the football federations of the two countries asked the AFC to move the series to @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with new schedules, details)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Postponed Olympic women's football qualifying matches between South Korea and China have been rescheduled for June in light of the coronavirus outbreaks in both countries.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Monday it was informed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that the home-and-home playoff series between the nations will be played on June 4 and 9. Venues will be determined later.
The winning team, based on the aggregate score after the two matches, will qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The women's football tournament there is scheduled to kick off on July 22.
In this file photo from Feb. 9, 2020, South Korean players celebrate their 3-0 victory over Vietnam in their Group A match in the third round of the Asian qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. (Yonhap)
These matches were initially scheduled for March 6 in South Korea and March 11 in China. The Chinese leg was first moved to Australia due to COVID-19 concerns. Then the South Korean host city of Yongin declined to stage the match, and the football federations of the two countries asked the AFC to move the series to April.
The AFC earlier said the matches had been rescheduled for April 9 and 14, but they were pushed back further by two months after discussions between the AFC and FIFA.
Australia and Vietnam are playing in the other playoff series. Australia cruised to a 5-0 victory in the first leg last Thursday, and the second leg is Wednesday.
The KFA has been adamant that South Korea's home leg must stay in the country, even if it is played in an empty stadium for safety reasons.
Coached by Englishman Colin Bell, South Korea are ranked 20th in the world, five spots below China. In 37 all-time meetings, South Korea have four wins, six draws and 27 losses against China.
Women's football joined the Olympics in 1996, and South Korea, dubbed the Taeguk Ladies, have never played in the quadrennial event.
Virtually all Asian football action in China and South Korea, both heavily hit by the virus, has been wiped off the calendar from February and March. The continental governing body has been scrambling to reschedule AFC Champions League matches, and Asian FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March and June have been pushed back.
But the AFC has told the KFA that matches could still be held in March or June if the teams involved meet safety and hygiene requirements established by FIFA and the AFC.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--USFK employee in Daegu in tests positive for coronavirus, total at 8

As of Thursday , South Korea had 7,478 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus , including 51 deaths , according @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) .
Of the total , more than 90 @ @ @ @ @ and North Gyeongsang Province .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean employee of U.S. Forces Korea stationed in the southeastern city of Daegu has tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of USFK-related infection cases to eight, the military said Monday.
The patient, who works at Camp Walker, is quarantined at his off-base residence, USFK said, adding health officials have been conducting contact tracing to determine whether anyone else may have been exposed.
"USFK remains at risk level 'high' peninsula-wide and is implementing all appropriate control measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as a prudent measure to protect the force," it said in a release.
As of Thursday, South Korea had 7,478 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, including 51 deaths, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the total, more than 90 percent have occurred in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)