{"id":17468,"date":"2020-03-18T12:41:14","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T12:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adra.org\/?p=17468"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:38:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:38:30","slug":"news-release-adra-responds-to-covid-19-in-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adra.org\/de\/news-release-adra-responds-to-covid-19-in-south-korea","title":{"rendered":"News Release: ADRA Responds to COVID-19 in South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Wake of an Outbreak, ADRA Provides Aid for South Korean Communities <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SOUTH KOREA (March 18, 2020) \u2013 South Korea has confirmed more than 8,400 COVID-19 cases and 84 deaths as of March 18, but the pace of new infections reportedly shows signs of slowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local authorities are managing the situation and trying hard to contain and quarantine known cases conducting about 15,000 tests daily. Medical workers clothed in protective gear and wearing face masks have been working around the clock at drive-through centers swabbing people\u2019s mouths and throats for testing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome local authorities are trying to procure any non-contact infrared forehead thermometers to prevent any spread of the coronavirus in public areas. On top of that, the government has begun regulating the use of face masks by selling them,\u201d says Jong-Min Lim, country director for ADRA in South Korea. \u201cPeople can buy up to two masks per person each week. Under the five-day rotation system, the day for buying masks is determined by the last digit of a person\u2019s birth year.\u201d The regulation comes as mortality rates have decreased but precautions remain to contain further outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is currently serving in Bonghwa, Chungdo, Daegu, Andong, Ui-seong, Yeong-cheon, and Pohan in Gyeongbuk province to assess immediate needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
ADRA staff join members from Sahmyook Foods for a photo after loading donated food items on to a truck in Cheonan-si. (Credit: ADRA in Korea)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost\npeople do not want food,\u201d Lim discovers. \u201cInstead, ADRA will provide them with\ncash vouchers, which will help people who have been displaced from their job as\na result of the pandemic, buy necessary items for them and their families.\u201d Lim\nadds that studies show using cash helps families, especially the most\nvulnerable and low-income households, make ends meet during times of crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the\nBonghwa and Chungdo provinces, ADRA has prepared and donated 500 food kits to\ntreatment facilities and delivered 300 food kits to Gyeongsan city for\nvulnerable families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An ADRA staff worker holds a sticker that reads, “Let’s Overcome Together.” (Credit: ADRA in South Korea)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo\nensure safety among our team, we are working with the Korean Union Conference\u2019s\n(KUC) Health Department to monitor the body temperature of our staff,\u201d says Lim.\n\u201cAs emergency responders, we have to ensure that our health is intact so we can\ncontinue working to provide aid.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lim says\nthat the Adventist Community Services in the Daegu and Kyeong-buk regions,\nwhich reportedly have the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, has\nbeen distributing hand sanitizers produced by the Adventist Church. \u201cThey have\nbeen offering bottles of hand sanitizers to people in the streets, retail shops\nand homes,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStaff\nfrom KUC, ADRA, and local conferences and churches all pitched in to also\ndonate blood,\u201d says Lim as there has been an increased need for blood\ndonations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

South\nKorea overall has seen a decrease in tourism since the start of the outbreak.\nReports are that the novel coronavirus has also made an impact on exports,\nindustries and companies, aviation, and retailers. The start of the spring\nsemester for kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools have also been\npostponed twice. In the meantime, the Korean Education Ministry plans to\nprovide digital textbooks and offer online classes to avoid gaps with\ncontinuing education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn\nmore about ADRA\u2019s response in South Korea at www.facebook.com\/adrakorea<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dcber ADRA<\/strong>
Das Adventistische Entwicklungs- und Katastrophenhilfswerk ist der internationale humanit\u00e4re Arm der Kirche der Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten. Ihre Arbeit st\u00e4rkt Gemeinschaften und ver\u00e4ndert Leben rund um den Globus, indem sie nachhaltige Gemeinschaftsentwicklung und Katastrophenhilfe leistet. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter ADRA.org<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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