아리랑tv

Welcome to Arirang News.

This is Shin SeByuck

And we start with our top headlines at this hour.

1.

South Korea reported 676 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday... the first time in three days that cases have been above 600.

Out of 651 locally transmitted cases, more than 35-percent came from outside the capital region... raising concerns that the virus is spreading all across the country.

Meanwhile, South Korea took delivery of 436-thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday.

The country has now received more than 2-point-4 million doses... of the 66 million Pfizer has agreed to supply.

By next month, it'll get another 4-point-5 million.

The Pfizer vaccine is currently being administered to seniors 75 and older and to nursing home workers,... and next month, the government plans to inoculate 640-thousand essential workers and military personnel younger than 30.

2.

Starting today, South Korea is ending its requirement that people returning to the country from overseas self-isolate for two weeks... if they've been fully vaccinated here in Korea.

That requirement is ended also... for vaccinated people who've come in contact with someone who's infected.

They will, however, have to have been vaccinated for two weeks already, test negative for the virus and show no symptoms.

It will not apply to people arriving from nine countries battling variants of the virus, including South Africa and Brazil,... and it won't yet apply to people who got their vaccine outside of Korea.

3.

In the U.S., the Biden administration has announced the goal of having 70 percent of American adults inoculated by Independence Day on July 4th. That would be at least one dose for around 160 million people.

So far, around 56 percent of American adults have gotten at least one dose, and around 40 percent are fully vaccinated.

Other countries, too, are trying to open up as soon as they can.

Italy has confirmed that it's launching a so-called "green pass" so that visitors can come in without quarantining... if they can show they've been vaccinated or have tested negative.

And Israel, a vaccine leader, is opening gyms and swimming pools now to people who are not vaccinated. And for those who do have a green pass, there'll be no capacity limits on places like sports venues.

Over in Germany, for vaccinated people, they're lifting the curfew and restrictions on social gatherings.

4.

South Korean foreign minister Chung Eui-yong held talk with his Bruneian counterpart on the side of a G7 meeting in London on Tuesday.

The two sides agreed to advance bilateral cooperation in areas such as construction and tourism.

The foreign ministry also said that the two ministers agreed to bolster cooperation to overcome the pandemic together and achieve an economic recovery at an early date.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are to meet in the coming hours... to discuss regional issues.

According to Japan's Kyodo News, the three are likely to discuss the U.S.' North Korea policy that the Biden administration has recently completed review... as well as China issues.

5.

Celebrating Korea’s Children Day, President Moon Jae-in met virtually with a group of elementary school students.

He got on a video call with all 38 children who attend Doseong Elementary School in a small village in Gangwon-do Province.

Usually children and their families are invited to Cheong Wa Dae on Children's Day... but the event has been held online since last year due to the pandemic.

Moving to weather forecast.

Clear skies will prevail for the daytime nationwide. Seoul will get up to 18 degrees, Daejeon and Gwangju 20 degrees. Daegu and Busan 23 degrees.

As for air conditions, the whole peninsula is expected to be at moderate level.

Meanwhile, strong wind alerts are issued across coastlines in Gangwondo province. Higher-than-normal sea levels are expected, so please stay away from water.

Less humid air mass will return on Thursday, which will make for a cool, breezy start.