The forgotten elephant in the room: COVID(19).

I was informed on Tuesday that little Emma from my 2nd grade elementary school class in the tiny six-desk hagwon room had tested positive for COVID19 that day, she sitting the day before in the front row. In that class, fortunately, I had Jenny - who was sniffling sick (just a cold virus, as she too was tested Tuesday) - a slow student who took a lot of my attention on the other side of the room (note: though, the other side of the room was just about 3 meters away as the room is three desks wide, two rows deep!), so, I being preoccupied, ... the diligent, accurate Emma needed to touch bases with me just a couple of times, and I didn't need to hunch over her desk (we're finishing the unit on animals and her spelling of giraffe, gorilla, crane, magpie and seagull was solid and i didn't need to check it, just asked her to spell the words for those who were struggling to unscramble the letters).

Fortunately, under those circumstances, I haven't got COVID19 again.

 But Emma was the 3rd student of mine in the last 10 days to get that coronavirus (all different ages, different classes), and... I have well under a hundred students! I have wondered if the high rates are coming back.

Interesting stat:

more than 97 percent of eligible adults in South Korea are fully vaccinated

https://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220713000653

Starting next week, eligibility for fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines, so far offered only to people aged 60 years and older, will open up to people in their 50s as well.

Except for health authorities it had been pretty much forgotten here until the recent increase in cases with the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants. The mask mandates have only applied to public transport but I've noticed a lot more people wearing them in shopping malls lately. A fourth dose of a vaccine is now recommended for people over the age of 50. Both my wife and I still haven't caught it yet, unless it was an asymptomatic infection. Perhaps it's because we eat so much garlic.  I'm not sure if I'll bother with a fourth dose. I have about 6 months months of paid sick leave up my sleeve and can't say I'm enjoying teaching in hybrid mode at the moment.

'Centaurus'

A deadly virus shouldn't have such a cool name.

I was hoping they named the next variant Persei 8.

I got my booster shot. Hope I'm protected.  I don't know how it works against the new variants.

Just before my vacay i read a news report talking about the gov't tightening testing for foreign arrivals and cited 300-ish new cases from arrivals. Later in the story there was cited a 60,000+ new cases nationwide, down from 90,000+ cases the day before. ... 300 out of 60,000 requires a change in policy? Yes, if 'foreigner as threat' (a nice way to put it) is still a resonating message here, which it is, absurdly so in this context.

But the real question is can elephants get covid?

Under the decision set to go into effect Monday, those at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people, and sporting events and concerts will not be required to wear masks.

https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220923002700315?section=national/politics

Rules for indoor mask wearing, however, will remain in place.

Under the decision set to go into effect Monday, those at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people, and sporting events and concerts will not be required to wear masks.

https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220923002700315?section=national/politics

Rules for indoor mask wearing, however, will remain in place.

just in time for the massive BTS concert to showcase the city of Busan to the world for their world expo bid....   Thatll make em all think were really on top of it

But the real question is can elephants get covid?

Mmm, deer do so why wouldn't elephants?
Less crowded living conditions, elevated snouts?
The mind boggles.

... elevated snouts...

Nice. It's refreshing to encounter a new description. Especially when apt not forced.

I think it'll be a great candidate for my upcoming NHL hockey fantasy league team name: Elevated Snouts. ... Wait, now it sounds uppity, no longer about elephants. Ugh.

Nice. It's refreshing to encounter a new description. Especially when apt not forced.

I think it'll be a great candidate for my upcoming NHL hockey fantasy league team name: Elevated Snouts. ... Wait, now it sounds uppity, no longer about elephants. Ugh.

I'm told creating one is a popular surgical procedure for Korean plastic surgeons too!



Nonetheless, I was born with one so there was no need for plastic surgery. However, now I wonder if it has played a role in avoiding a Covid-19 infection to this date. 

I'm told creating one is a popular surgical procedure for Korean plastic surgeons too!



Nonetheless, I was born with one so there was no need for plastic surgery. However, now I wonder if it has played a role in avoiding a Covid-19 infection to this date.

So proud to be Korean...yet so ashamed to look Korean.


...figures.

Damn.

We started at elephants and ended at cosmetic surgery.

My bad.

(I should have realized that mentioning "snouts" would juice up a portion of the population of the country that gets the most nose jobs.)

My bad.

(I should have realized that mentioning "snouts" would juice up a portion of the population of the country that gets the most nose jobs.)

Nope. Adel mentioned snouts, not you.

Nope. Adel mentioned snouts, not you.

Elevated snouts rather than snouts per-se, to be fair.

Mmm, deer do so why wouldn't elephants?
Less crowded living conditions, elevated snouts?
The mind boggles.

Indeed. This is the first reference to "elevated snouts" on this site, and in my life. He stated it and i mentioned it.

I cheered it as an original description (not hackneyed or tired or trite).

No masks in the west now.  While I'm grateful Korea wasn't fascist over the vaccines.  The masks are annoying and it's time to get rid of them and get back to normal.  Covid is not so bad anymore.  I had omicron in the spring and it was mild.  Any further strains are milder now.  Get on with the business of living. 

No masks in the west now.  While I'm grateful Korea wasn't fascist over the vaccines.  The masks are annoying and it's time to get rid of them and get back to normal.  Covid is not so bad anymore.  I had omicron in the spring and it was mild.  Any further strains are milder now.  Get on with the business of living.

It really is, and has been, time to let it go (and to discard to stupid yellow utility jackets...seriously .  I know appearance is everything in Korea but for the sake of sanity,it all has to go). 

Kimchi failed.  "Vaccines" have failed....(wait...mRNA jabs, perhaps...not necessarily J & J).  Just drink a lot of water, have a decent diet, exercise, take your vitamins and roll the dice.  That is all anyone can do. 

Korea (and to be fair, Korea is not alone) needs to let go and let live.  Otherwise, the Hangul Tigers are presenting themselves as nothing but a bunch of SJW's cheer-leading the party of slavery. 

Buck up Korea....