MESSAGE
| DATE | 2020-08-17 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [Hangout - NYLXS] South Korea's COVID-19 Miracle proves to also be
|
South Korean Health Officials Concerned Over Rise in Daily Coronavirus
Infections
Andrew Jeong
4-6 minutes
SEOUL—South Korean health officials are on guard and strengthening
prevention measures after the country on Sunday reported its highest
daily count of new coronavirus infections in months.
There were 279 newly infected individuals, health officials said. Most
of the cases arose in the Seoul metropolitan area, home to about half
the country’s population.
Though the numbers are low compared with those in more populous
countries, Sunday was the third consecutive day the country reported new
infections above 100, a first since March, when South Korea was the
hardest-hit country outside China, according to figures compiled by
Johns Hopkins University.
Many of the recent infections came from members of two churches in the
Seoul area and those who had been in contact with them, health officials
said. South Korea’s first coronavirus wave in the spring centered around
a megachurch where worshipers had been tightly packed indoors.
The recent rise in infections, and their links to churches, are stirring
concern among South Korean officials who have been guarding against a
second wave of the coronavirus that could undo months of work that
resulted in successful containment.
“Coronavirus infections, centered around several churches, have surged,”
said South Korean President Moon Jae-in, in a statement released by his
office on Sunday. “It is expected that there will be large numbers of
new infections for a while. This is a very grave situation.”
In response, South Korean health officials have restrengthened social
distancing rules throughout the country, after having relaxed them, as
daily infections have mostly remained in the double digits since April,
in a country of 52 million.
Attendance at some baseball and soccer games will be barred, after the
country allowed stadiums to receive up to 30% of full capacity.
Government-designated high-risk facilities, such as karaoke rooms,
nightclubs, and indoor gyms, must enforce basic prevention measures,
such as mask-wearing, and keeping a list of visitors. The education
ministry advised schools to minimize the number of students in
attendance, and rely on distance learning options.
The government has also asked law enforcement to investigate a senior
leader of Sarang Jeil Church, one of the churches suspected to be linked
to the recent surges in infections. Officials said the pastor, Jun
Kwang-hoon, had spread misinformation that had undermined prevention
efforts, among other allegations.
The pastor, a vocal political critic of Mr. Moon, participated in mass
antigovernment rallies in downtown Seoul over the weekend, health
officials said, ignoring government notices that he self-quarantine
after suspected coronavirus cases were detected among members of his church.
Mr. Moon said the government would take coercive measures against those
who actively disobeyed prevention orders from health officials, labeling
such acts as a direct challenge against the country’s health system.
STAY INFORMED
Get a coronavirus briefing six days a week, and a weekly Health
newsletter once the crisis abates: Sign up here.
The U.S. military in South Korea, will separately raise its health alert
level that takes effect Monday, restricting off-base travel and
requiring only essential personnel to commute, according to a statement
posted on Facebook.
“All [U.S. military] affiliated individuals must wear a mask off
installation to protect yourself…and others,” said Col. Lee Peters, a
spokesman for U.S. forces here. Around 58,000 troops and civilians are
affiliated with the American military garrison in South Korea.
South Korea has been viewed as a coronavirus success story by American
officials, after successfully flattening the number of new daily
infections through aggressive testing and contact tracing. The country
has so far recorded a cumulative 15,318 cases.
Write to Andrew Jeong at andrew.jeong-at-wsj.com
https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korean-health-officials-concerned-over-rise-in-daily-coronavirus-infections-11597599041
--
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town
that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological
proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
http://www.mrbrklyn.com
DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software
http://www.brooklyn-living.com
Being so tracked is for FARM ANIMALS and extermination camps,
but incompatible with living as a free human being. -RI Safir 2013
_______________________________________________
Hangout mailing list
Hangout-at-nylxs.com
http://lists.mrbrklyn.com/mailman/listinfo/hangout
|
|
