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| Coronavirus: South Korea 'emergency' measures as infections increase | Coronavirus: South Korea 'emergency' measures as infections increase |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South Korea has stepped up measures to contain the spread of the deadly new coronavirus, as confirmed infections increased sharply for a second day. | South Korea has stepped up measures to contain the spread of the deadly new coronavirus, as confirmed infections increased sharply for a second day. |
| PM Chung Sye-kyun said it was now an emergency as 100 new cases and the country's second death were confirmed. | PM Chung Sye-kyun said it was now an emergency as 100 new cases and the country's second death were confirmed. |
| The southern cities of Daegu and Cheongdo have been declared "special care zones". The streets of Daegu are now largely abandoned. | The southern cities of Daegu and Cheongdo have been declared "special care zones". The streets of Daegu are now largely abandoned. |
| All military bases are in lockdown after three soldiers tested positive. | All military bases are in lockdown after three soldiers tested positive. |
| About 9,000 members of a religious group were told to self quarantine, after the sect was identified as a coronavirus hotbed. | About 9,000 members of a religious group were told to self quarantine, after the sect was identified as a coronavirus hotbed. |
| The authorities suspect the current outbreak in South Korea originated in Cheongdo, pointing out that a large number of sect followers attended a funeral of the founder's brother from 31 January to 2 February. | The authorities suspect the current outbreak in South Korea originated in Cheongdo, pointing out that a large number of sect followers attended a funeral of the founder's brother from 31 January to 2 February. |
| On Friday, a second person who contracted the coronavirus died. | |
| The victim was a woman in her 50s. She died in the south-western city of Busan after being transferred there from a hospital in a nearby country, according to Yonhap news agency. | |
| Reports say she had earlier been a patient at the same mental hospital in Cheongdo as the country's first victim - an elderly man. Another 15 patients there have also tested positive. | |
| On Thursday, 53 new cases were reported. South Korea now has a total of 204 cases making it the largest cluster outside mainland China and the cruise ship docked off Japan. | On Thursday, 53 new cases were reported. South Korea now has a total of 204 cases making it the largest cluster outside mainland China and the cruise ship docked off Japan. |
| The new virus, which originated last year in Hubei province in China, causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19. | The new virus, which originated last year in Hubei province in China, causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19. |
| What measures are being taken? | What measures are being taken? |
| From the 100 new cases reported on Friday, 86 were in Daegu, a city 300km (186 miles) south-east of the capital Seoul, and nearly all of those were from a cluster involving the religious sect. | From the 100 new cases reported on Friday, 86 were in Daegu, a city 300km (186 miles) south-east of the capital Seoul, and nearly all of those were from a cluster involving the religious sect. |
| Reacting to the quickly deteriorating situation, the government promised swift measures to prevent further spread of the virus. | Reacting to the quickly deteriorating situation, 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," PM Chung said, according to 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. | 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. | He also said that all pneumonia patients in Daegu hospitals would be checked for the 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. | 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. |
| As of Friday, more than 400 members of the church were showing symptoms of the disease, though tests were still ongoing, the city mayor said. | As of Friday, more than 400 members of the church were showing symptoms of the disease, though tests were still ongoing, the city mayor said. |
| Daegu is the country's fourth-largest city, with a population of 2.5 million people. | Daegu is the country's fourth-largest city, with a population of 2.5 million people. |
| Residents are now being asked to remain at home after authorities described the church cluster as "super-spreading event". | Residents are now being asked to remain at home after authorities described the church cluster as "super-spreading event". |
| Hand sanitizers and warning signs | Hand sanitizers and warning signs |
| By Hyung Eun Kim, BBC Korean Service, Seoul | By Hyung Eun Kim, BBC Korean Service, Seoul |
| Many people in South Korea are wearing masks on a daily basis. | Many people in South Korea are wearing masks on a daily basis. |
| Hand sanitizers have been placed at public transport stops and building entrances. | Hand sanitizers have been placed at public transport stops and building entrances. |
| Warning government signs are everywhere. They say: "Three ways to prevent further infection: wear a mask at all times; wash your hands properly with soap for more than 30 seconds; and cover yourself when coughing." | Warning government signs are everywhere. They say: "Three ways to prevent further infection: wear a mask at all times; wash your hands properly with soap for more than 30 seconds; and cover yourself when coughing." |
| Koreans have also developed several apps and websites that tell you how much risk you face where you are. They show where the infected people are within a 10km radius. | Koreans have also developed several apps and websites that tell you how much risk you face where you are. They show where the infected people are within a 10km radius. |
| "I can't miss work, what I can do is minimise contact with others and stay at home during the weekend," Seung-hye Lim, a Seoul resident, told the BBC. | "I can't miss work, what I can do is minimise contact with others and stay at home during the weekend," Seung-hye Lim, a Seoul resident, told the BBC. |
| "I do wonder if we reacted too laxly initially or if it really is because of the specific service practices of the Shincheonji sect." | "I do wonder if we reacted too laxly initially or if it really is because of the specific service practices of the Shincheonji sect." |
| So-young Sung, a mother of two in Seoul, told the BBC: "It feels like my daily life is collapsing." | So-young Sung, a mother of two in Seoul, told the BBC: "It feels like my daily life is collapsing." |
| She said she was struggling to find pharmacies that had masks. | She said she was struggling to find pharmacies that had masks. |
| She added that checking coronavirus-related alarms from her children's schools and kindergartens was now a daily routine for her. | She added that checking coronavirus-related alarms from her children's schools and kindergartens was now a daily routine for her. |
| 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 now hit the country's prison system, with more than 500 inmates confirmed infected. | The virus has now hit the country's prison system, with more than 500 inmates confirmed infected. |
| Senior officials have already been sacked for mishandling management of the outbreak. | Senior officials have already been sacked for mishandling management of the outbreak. |
| 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 Middle East, the US and Africa. | |
| On Friday, Iran confirmed 13 new cases, saying that two of those infected had died. | |
| Health ministry official Minou Mohrez was quoted by the state-run Irna news agency as saying the coronavirus has spread to several cities, including the capital Tehran. | |
| 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 on board. | Passengers of the Diamond Princess who have tested negative continue to disembark the ship in Yokohama after more than 14 days quarantined on board. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| What questions do you have about the coronavirus? | What questions do you have about the coronavirus? |
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| Use this form to ask your question: | Use this form to ask your question: |