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| Coronavirus: South Korea steps up measures as infections spike | Coronavirus: South Korea steps up measures as infections spike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South Korea has stepped up measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, as confirmed infections rose sharply for a second day. | South Korea has stepped up measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, as confirmed infections rose sharply for a second day. |
| Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun described the development as an "emergency" situation. | Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun described the development as an "emergency" situation. |
| The two southern cities of Daegu and Cheongdo have been declared "special care zones". | The two southern cities of Daegu and Cheongdo have been declared "special care zones". |
| The country has also locked down its military after several soldiers tested positive. | The country has also locked down its military after several soldiers tested positive. |
| On Friday, South Korea reported 52 new confirmations after a rise of 53 on Thursday. | On Friday, South Korea reported 52 new confirmations after a rise of 53 on Thursday. |
| The country now has a total of 156 cases making it the largest cluster outside mainland China and the cruise ship docked off Japan. | The country now has a total of 156 cases making it the largest cluster outside mainland China and the cruise ship docked off Japan. |
| From the 52 new cases reported on Friday, 41 are in Daegu, a city 300km southeast of the capital Seoul, and 39 of those are from a cluster involving a religious sect. | |
| Authorities confirmed the country's first death from the virus on Thursday, in the neighbouring city Cheongdo. | Authorities confirmed the country's first death from the virus on Thursday, in the neighbouring city Cheongdo. |
| The man was was a long term patient at a mental health facility, where alongside him another 14 patients have also tested positive. | |
| Officially named Sars-CoV-2, the new virus is thought to have originated in Hubei province in China. It causes pneumonia-like symptoms. | Officially named Sars-CoV-2, the new virus is thought to have originated in Hubei province in China. It causes pneumonia-like symptoms. |
| What measures are being taken? | What measures are being taken? |
| Both Daegu and Cheongdo cities have been designated "special care zones" and the government promised swift measures to prevent further spread of the virus. | Both Daegu and Cheongdo cities have been designated "special care zones" and the government promised swift measures to prevent further spread of the virus. |
| "It is urgent to find people who have contacted infected people and cure patients," Prime Minister Chung said according to news agency Yonhap. | "It is urgent to find people who have contacted infected people and cure patients," Prime Minister Chung said according to news agency Yonhap. |
| He said the government was readying resources like sickbeds, medical equipment and health workers and warned the virus was now spreading locally. | He said the government was readying resources like sickbeds, medical equipment and health workers and warned the virus was now spreading locally. |
| "The government has so far focused on curbing infections coming from outside the country. From now on, the government will further prioritise preventing the virus from spreading locally." | "The government has so far focused on curbing infections coming from outside the country. From now on, the government will further prioritise preventing the virus from spreading locally." |
| Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said authorities would allow hospitals to isolate respiratory patients from others in an effort to prevent any spread within medical institutions. | |
| He also said that all pneumonia patients in Daegu hospitals would be checked for the virus. | |
| South Korea's defence ministry has ordered a lock down for all personnel and cancelled all leave after several soldiers tested positive for the new virus. | |
| What happened in Daegu? | What happened in Daegu? |
| The city's biggest cluster appears to be at a branch of a religious sect which calls itself the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. | |
| South Korean health officials believe these infections are linked to a 61-year-old woman who tested positive for the virus earlier this week. | South Korean health officials believe these infections are linked to a 61-year-old woman who tested positive for the virus earlier this week. |
| The Shincheonji, which has been accused of being a cult, said it had now shut down its Daegu branch and that services in other regions would be held online or individually at home. | The Shincheonji, which has been accused of being a cult, said it had now shut down its Daegu branch and that services in other regions would be held online or individually at home. |
| Daegu is the country's fourth-largest city and its streets are now largely abandoned as the 2.5 million residents are asked to remain at home after authorities have described the church cluster as "super-spreading event". | Daegu is the country's fourth-largest city and its streets are now largely abandoned as the 2.5 million residents are asked to remain at home after authorities have described the church cluster as "super-spreading event". |
| As of Friday, more than 400 members of the church are showing symptoms of the disease, though tests were still ongoing, the city mayor said. | As of Friday, more than 400 members of the church are showing symptoms of the disease, though tests were still ongoing, the city mayor said. |
| What about China and elsewhere? | What about China and elsewhere? |
| The latest figures from China put the death toll from the disease at 2,236 people and total infections at more than 75,000. | The latest figures from China put the death toll from the disease at 2,236 people and total infections at more than 75,000. |
| The virus has also spread around the globe with more than 1,000 cases and several deaths in the rest of Asia, in Europe, the US and Africa. | The virus has also spread around the globe with more than 1,000 cases and several deaths in the rest of Asia, in Europe, the US and Africa. |
| South Korea is now the worst affected country after mainland China and the more than 600 infections on a cruise ship docked in Japan. | South Korea is now the worst affected country after mainland China and the more than 600 infections on a cruise ship docked in Japan. |
| Passengers of the Diamond Princess who have tested negative continue to disembark the ship in Yokohama after more than 14 days quarantined onboard. | |
| More than 150 Australian passengers have been evacuated from the ship and have already arrived in Darwin, where they will begin two more weeks of quarantine. | More than 150 Australian passengers have been evacuated from the ship and have already arrived in Darwin, where they will begin two more weeks of quarantine. |
| Australian officials said on Friday that six people had reported feeling unwell on arrival in Darwin and were immediately tested. | |
| Two of those people tested positive despite having received negative tests before leaving Japan. | |
| The first batch of people from Hong Kong have also flown back to the city, where they will similarly be quarantined. | The first batch of people from Hong Kong have also flown back to the city, where they will similarly be quarantined. |