Covid-19 risks in South Korea
South Korea owes much of its success against the coronavirus to tracing those infected with surveillance cameras, smartphone data and credit card records.
That aggressive approach has also fed a growing culture of online harassment and raised questions about privacy.
Case in point: The authorities revealed information about Kim Ji-seon, a 29-year-old office worker after she tested positive, including her age, her church affiliation and recent whereabouts. Online trolls then accused Ms. Kim of belonging to a cult, and matched her movements with that of another church member who had tested positive to conclude she was cheating on her fiancé.
“I was flabbergasted,” Ms. Kim said. “How could they make fun of people who were struggling for their lives?”
Here are our latest updates and map of the pandemic.
In other developments:
■ A new Chinese government-sponsored television drama on the fight against Covid-19 has incited an uproar for playing down the contribution of women, who according to the government’s own information, made up the majority of frontline workers during the crisis.
■ The British government announced that as of Sept. 28, it would impose fines of 1,000 pounds, or about $1,300, against those who do not self-isolate after testing positive for the virus, as the number of new daily cases rose to above 4,000 for the first time since early May. The fines could escalate to a maximum of £10,000 for repeat offenders or for the most serious breaches.
■ A man who traveled to New Zealand from India last month developed symptoms after his two-week quarantine and infected two household members, officials said over the weekend. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to announce today whether restrictions will be further eased in Auckland and lifted entirely in the rest of the country.
The New York Times
