K-pop group The Boyz member tests positive for Covid-19; 6.55-M confirmed cases in Korea (Sabong News)

A member of K-pop boy band The Boyz has tested positive for Covid-19 amid a surge in Omicron variant cases in South Korea. IST Entertainment, The Boyz’s agency, announced on March 13 that member New has been diagnosed with the disease. It said on March 12, The Boyz’s New developed symptoms of Covid-19 and got tested using a self-test kit. The result was positive, prompting him to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. He was confirmed positive on March 13. The agency said New has no other special symptoms other than a cough. He will focus on treatment. On March 13, South Korea recorded 350,190 new Covid-19 cases to bring the total confirmed cases to 6.55 million including 10,395 deaths. From March 7 to 13, South Korea had an average of 300,027 new cases per day. More than 200 Korean celebrities have tested positive for Covid-19 since Jan. 19. and girl group Brave Girls’ Minyoung were diagnosed with Covid-19 on March 12. Meanwhile, the South Korean embassy in the Philippines announced the easing of restrictions in visa issuance. In its “Notice of Changes in Visa Issuance (partially lifted) on March 11, it said it will now process visas for Short-term News Coverage (C-1) and Short-term Employee (C-4). Here is the text of the Korean embassy’s announcement: “Please be informed that the Embassy will change the subject of visa issuance from March 11, 2022 (Friday) as follows: o Short-term visa: 1. Diplomat and Foreign Government Official 2. Family of Korean Nationals 3. Family of foreign long term visa holders in Korea (only for family members applicable for F-3 visa) 4. Seafarers 5. Persons who visits Korea for essential corporate activities such as: investment and technology provisions 6. Persons who is recognized for humanitarian reasons such as death of immediate family member Necessary documents and processing period o Same as current – For details, please refer to the announcement dated April 19, 2021. ( )