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☆ South Korea is battling against a bedbug outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

South Korea has been gripped by a bedbug outbreak, and the government is rushing to battle the bloodsucking bugs. The bedbugs were first found in a sauna in Incheon, as well as university dormitories and gosiwons, according to a the South Korean government. An initial outbreak was reported in a dormitory at Keimyung University in Daegu city in September. As of Tuesday, the number of suspected bedbug cases rose to 30, with more than half in the capital, Seoul. While they do not transmit diseases, their bites can cause intense itching and lead to secondary skin infections or scarring.

Persons: bedbugs Organizations: South, Keimyung University, Korea Disease Control, Prevention Agency Locations: Paris, Seoul, South Korea, Incheon, Daegu, South Korea's, Korea

☆ South Korea declares war on bedbugs after surge in reported cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea has become the latest country to declare war on bedbugs following a wave of outbreaks, with bathhouses, university dorms, and train stations across the country on high alert. Previously, the country had been practically free of bedbugs following past extermination campaigns, with just nine infestations being reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) since 2014. Meanwhile, pest control companies say they have become inundated with phone calls asking for help. “Bedbugs are developing resistance to the insecticides that we commonly use, so the most effective solution these days is heating. “Early and proactive responses are crucial.”In its “Bedbug Prevention and Response Guidelines,” the Seoul City Government advises people against bringing items with a risk of infestation into their homes.

Persons: “, ”, Eom Hae, Eom, Yoo, Lee, hasn’t, Lee Hee, ” Lee, It’s, Yang Nam, kyung Organizations: South Korea CNN, Korea Disease Control, South, bedbugs, Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul City Government Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea, France, United Kingdom, United States, Pest, Incheon, City

Seoul CNN —At least 16 people have died from heat-related illnesses in South Korea as the country swelters under a prolonged heat wave with temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country. A total of 1,284 people reported suffering heat-related illnesses as of Tuesday, according to KDCA. South Korea has raised the heat wave warning to the highest “serious” level for the first time since 2019, the interior and safety ministry said Wednesday. Ahn Young-joon/APHeat wave warnings have expanded to most of the country since late July as temperatures rose over 33 degrees Celsius (around 91 Fahrenheit). To cope with the continuing heat wave, local authorities are regularly checking on vulnerable populations and setting up cooling facilities such as shade tents and sun umbrella rentals.

Persons: Ahn Young, ’ Organizations: Seoul CNN —, Korea Disease Control, Prevention Agency, “, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea, KDCA, Gyeonggi, Yeoju, Anseong, Asia, China, Japan

☆ Typhoon Doksuri and Khanun: Thousands in China flee homes as one soaks Beijing and the second approaches Typhoon Doksuri lashes Beijing and floods parts of China, while another storm approaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A civilian rescue team help flood-stranded people onto a rubber boat in Quanzhou in southeast China's Fujian province on July 29, 2023. Even as Doksuri tapers off, authorities are preparing for incoming Khanun, the sixth typhoon projected to hit China this year. This weekend, a total of 1,015 people suffered heat-related diseases, which the KDCA defines as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope and heat edema. The city of Gyeongju saw temperatures reach 36.8 degrees Celsius (98.24 Fahrenheit) and Jeongseon county saw temperatures reach 36.1 Celsius (96.98 Fahrenheit), according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district saw temperatures reach to 35.7 degrees Celsius (around 96.2 Fahrenheit), while North Gyeongsang Province saw temperatures reach 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.58 degrees Fahrenheit).

Persons: Doksuri, hurtled, Saomi, Rita, Khanun Organizations: CNN, CCTV, Xinhua, China Meteorological Administration, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, CNN Weather, Joint Typhoon Warning, South Korea swelters, Korea Disease Control, Prevention Agency, Korea Meteorological Administration Locations: Beijing, China, Fujian, Liaoning, Hebei, Quanzhou, China's Fujian, Philippines, Taiwan, Zaozhuang, China's Shandong, Zhejiang, Okinawa, East, Naha, Miyako, Asia Asia, South Korea, Korea, Gyeongju, Jeongseon, Gangnam, North Gyeongsang Province

☆ South Korea to drop mandatory 7-day quarantine for COVID patients from June
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, May 11 (Reuters) - South Korea on Thursday lowered its crisis level for COVID-19 and will from June no longer require infected people to quarantine for seven days, dropping one of the country's few remaining pandemic-related restrictions. Health authorities will still recommend five days of self-isolation for infected people but it will not be mandatory. Requirements that masks be worn at all medical facilities and pharmacies will also be dropped, with masks only mandatory at hospitals with patient wards. Yoon said the government would continue to provide financial support for COVID testing and treatment "for a while". South Korea, which has a population of 52 million, has reported around 31.3 million infections and 34,600 deaths, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

HONG KONG — On the first day of unimpeded travel between mainland China and Hong Kong, Olivia Gai was one of the first in line. On Tuesday, the Chinese embassies in South Korea and Japan said they would stop issuing short-term visas for travelers to China. The South Korean Foreign Ministry says its restrictions on travelers from China are based on science. According to some estimates, China’s Covid death toll could reach 1 million or more in the coming months. Nonetheless, more countries have begun requiring negative Covid tests for travelers from China, and at least one country, Morocco, has banned arrivals entirely.

South Korea on Tuesday hit back at claims that its Covid rules for Chinese travelers are "discriminatory," saying more than half of its imported cases are coming from China. Citing South Korea's proximity to China, Choi said a surge in infections in China could put South Korea at risk. But South Korea and Japan — two top destinations for Chinese travelers — said they are not increasing flights in response to China's border reopening. China's embassies in South Korea and Japan announced Tuesday that they would stop issuing visas to "Korean nationals" and "Japanese citizens." Choi said South Korea's new Covid travel restrictions are "only temporary" and were made to "place the highest priority on the health and safety of people residing in South Korea."

☆ South Korea calls China's visa suspension 'deeply regrettable'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Jan 11 (Reuters) - China's recent decision to suspend the issue of short-term visas in South Korea was "deeply regrettable", the South's Foreign Minister Park Jin said on Wednesday. Tuesday's suspension by the Chinese embassy in South Korea was China's first retaliatory move against countries imposing COVID-19 curbs on its travellers. "It's deeply regrettable China took such a countermeasure by entirely suspending issuance of short-term visas," Park told a news briefing, adding that South Korea still issues visas to Chinese visitors for urgent business or humanitarian purposes. Some Chinese tourists have complained over such curbs, which are the strictest among the new rules countries have adopted, but South Korea said they were not discriminatory. "I don't think it's desirable for these measures to have any negative impact on the South Korea-China relations," Park added.

☆ Chinese travelers say new restrictions are 'unfair' — but they're angry at some countries more than others
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

But it's not out of spite, said several Chinese travelers who spoke to CNBC. 'I think it's unfair'Reactions from Chinese travelers who spoke to CNBC were varied, ranging from indifference to confusion to anger. Last week, the European Union recommended that its members require Chinese travelers to take Covid tests before entering. Rein said Chinese travelers are now headed to Singapore and Thailand because "both countries are welcoming us." Of the top destinations Chinese nationals searched after the border reopening announcement, those are the only two that haven't imposed new restrictions on incoming Chinese travelers.

☆ South Korea police find Chinese man missing after being sent to COVID quarantine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Jan 5 (Reuters) - South Korean police found on Thursday a Chinese man who went missing after testing positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, and said he would be taken to a quarantine facility and could later be charged under a disease control law. The man has been on a wanted list for allegedly running away while awaiting admission to quarantine. He could be subject to up to one year in prison, or 10 million won ($7,840) in fines, if convicted of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, officials said. Effective Thursday, arrivals are also required to provide a negative PCR result, taken within 48 hours of the beginning of their journeys to South Korea, or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours. A total of 4,113 people have arrived from China since Monday and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 917 test results showed that 239 of them, or 26.1% of them, were infected with COVID.

☆ South Korea seeks Chinese national missing from COVID quarantine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Chinese tourists walk into coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing centre upon their arrival at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiSEOUL, Jan 4 (Reuters) - South Korea authorities said on Wednesday they were trying to track down a Chinese national who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival but went missing while waiting at a quarantine facility. The person tested positive after arriving at Incheon International Airport near Seoul late on Tuesday and was transferred to a nearby hotel to await admission to quarantine, but then went missing, a health official said. Starting this week, South Korea required travellers from China to undergo a PCR test upon arrival. The case of the missing Chinese national triggered questions in the media about South Korea's system to control and manage infected inbound travellers.

☆ South Korea to require COVID tests for Hong Kong, Macau travellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Jan 3 (Reuters) - South Korea's health authorities said on Tuesday it will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travellers from Hong Kong and Macau, after Beijing's decision to lift stringent zero-COVID policies. Effective Jan. 7, travellers from Hong Kong and Macau would be required to submit a negative result from a PCR test, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The decision comes after South Korea announced it will require travellers from China to take COVID tests before departure and upon arrival in South Korea, joining the United States, Japan and other countries in taking new border measures amid concerns over a new wave of infections and mutations. Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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