The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) is glad to once again serve the vast public of sports journalists working in every corner of the world a new global update regarding the consequences of Covid-19 in the sporting field.
“The time we are living has thrown down an unprecedented challenge to the sports media industry in its entirety. In the past months, many of your colleagues relied on us to communicate the harsh conditions suffered by sports media in their respective countries,” says AIPS President Gianni Merlo. “Concerns over salary cuts, redundancies, scarce sanitary measures and the restricted space for the press passed from the voice of few, bold journalists to the global spotlight as only a well established association as AIPS can guarantee.”
National Sport Journalists Associations are now contributing once again to this important feature by sending us constant updates about
- the situation of sports event in their countries
- the government’s assistance to journalist
- the crisis faced by important media in terms of job losses and pay cuts
In South Korea situation under control, but sports events without audience
by Heedon Jung, AIPS EC Member
On October 8th, there were 69 confirmed cases of the Corona virus in Korea. The number of domestic outbreaks is estimated at 60 and overseas inflow to nine. The number of confirmed cases was somewhat higher yesterday at 114. Mass infections have occurred in hospitals and in the military. Still, the situation is stable as the number of double digits has been reduced, especially compared to the results of many people visiting relatives’ homes during the maximum five-day holiday last week.
Korean sports were not held from February to May when the Corona situation was serious, but professional baseball, football, volleyball, basketball, and golf began to open in May. Some spectators were allowed to enter in June, July and August, but all events are now being held without audience due to the government’s policy since last month.
So far, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases of South Korea has reached 24,422 and 427 have died, with a low death rate. Even though South Korea, had faced a difficult situation in February with more than 1,000 confirmed cases per day, but has now since been considered as one of the best countries which are carrying out very effective quarantine policy due to its massive testing and fast reaction.
Korea is now producing the world’s best corona virus tester and exporting it to the America, Europe and Asia. Until last month, Korean test-makers shipped as much as $290 million overseas. Testing in Korea is also very simple and easy to access. If you want to be personally diagnosed, you can go to a public health center in town and get it right away for 85,000 won (US $73). Originally, the cost of diagnosis was free at first, but now people with no symptoms should pay. However, if your family members or co-workers are confirmed, or if you stayed in an infected area, you can take the test free of charge. As soon as you are diagnosed, the result messages are delivered to your mobile phone within 6 hours.
Koreans are very active and positive in personal quarantine. 99 percent of Koreans are wearing masks when they go outside to reduce the transmission and infection of others. Even our company is advising employees to use masks indoors.
Korean restaurants and cafes are operating almost normally, but total estimated sales are reaching to only 70 percent (30 percent minus) compared to the past. Normal classes in school are also difficult, so students go to school two or three times a week to take classes, and the rest of the classes are being replaced by online.
