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| Coronavirus outbreak: South Korea church cluster drives huge jump in cases | Coronavirus outbreak: South Korea church cluster drives huge jump in cases |
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| Patients and staff at a hospital near Daegu account for bulk of 142 new cases as links to controversial ‘sect’ are investigated | |
| South Korea has reported another huge jump in cases of coronavirus as the country fights to contain the spread of the deadly disease. | South Korea has reported another huge jump in cases of coronavirus as the country fights to contain the spread of the deadly disease. |
| The number of infections has increased by 142 to 346, officials said on Saturday, with most of the cases linked to the city of Daegu and surrounding region two hours south of Seoul. | The number of infections has increased by 142 to 346, officials said on Saturday, with most of the cases linked to the city of Daegu and surrounding region two hours south of Seoul. |
| A 61-year-old woman in Daegu is believed to be at the heart of the rapid spread and is thought to have passed the infection to dozens, and possibly even hundreds, of fellow worshippers at the controversial Shincheonji Church of Jesus. | A 61-year-old woman in Daegu is believed to be at the heart of the rapid spread and is thought to have passed the infection to dozens, and possibly even hundreds, of fellow worshippers at the controversial Shincheonji Church of Jesus. |
| Of the new cases announced on Saturday, 92 have been traced to patients or staff at Cheongdo Daenam hospital near Daegu. “Most of the hospital’s patients who have been diagnosed are those who had been staying as inpatients for mental illnesses,” Seoul’s vice health minister Kim Gang-lip told a media briefing. | |
| The area is, however, closely connected to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. It is the birthplace of its founder, Lee Man-hee, who has donned the mantle of Jesus Christ and claims that he will take 144,000 people with him to Heaven, body and soul, on the Day of Judgement. | |
| County officials said on Friday that a three-day funeral was held for Lee’s brother three weeks ago at a hall owned by the hospital. | |
| South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, on Friday called for a “thorough investigation” of everyone who attended the funeral and Shincheonji services. | |
| Kim said on Saturday that the outbreak had entered a serious new phase, but still expressed cautious optimism that it could be contained to the region surrounding Daegu, where the first case was reported on Tuesday. | |
| By Saturday morning, the city of 2.5 million and nearby areas counted 283 cases, including South Korea’s first two fatalities in the Cheongdo hospital. | |
| The central government has declared the area as a special management zone and is channeling support to ease a shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and equipment. | The central government has declared the area as a special management zone and is channeling support to ease a shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and equipment. |
| “Although we are beginning to see some more cases nationwide, infections are still sporadic outside of the special management zone of Daegu and North Gyeongsang province,” Kim said during a briefing. He called for strong border controls to prevent infections from China and elsewhere from entering South Korea. | “Although we are beginning to see some more cases nationwide, infections are still sporadic outside of the special management zone of Daegu and North Gyeongsang province,” Kim said during a briefing. He called for strong border controls to prevent infections from China and elsewhere from entering South Korea. |
| Cases in South Korea have risen elevenfold since the 61-year-old woman became the 31st case recorded by the Korean centers for disease control and prevention on Tuesday. She had not travelled overseas recently, officials said. | Cases in South Korea have risen elevenfold since the 61-year-old woman became the 31st case recorded by the Korean centers for disease control and prevention on Tuesday. She had not travelled overseas recently, officials said. |
| Busan, South Korea’s second biggest city, recorded its first two cases on Friday. Several cases have been confirmed in Seoul although the source of infections – what scientists call the index case – has not been traced. | Busan, South Korea’s second biggest city, recorded its first two cases on Friday. Several cases have been confirmed in Seoul although the source of infections – what scientists call the index case – has not been traced. |
| Daegu is on full alert against the spread of the virus and has closed public buildings and delayed the start of the school term by a week. Its usually busy streets have been brought to a standstill. The exception was supermarkets where residents hav ebeen queueing to buy food and other supplies. Troops at South Korean and US military bases have been confined to barracks. | Daegu is on full alert against the spread of the virus and has closed public buildings and delayed the start of the school term by a week. Its usually busy streets have been brought to a standstill. The exception was supermarkets where residents hav ebeen queueing to buy food and other supplies. Troops at South Korean and US military bases have been confined to barracks. |
| Panic is taking hold,” Daegu resident Huh Mi-yeon told Associated Press. “People are scared of any situation where they would run into another person.” | Panic is taking hold,” Daegu resident Huh Mi-yeon told Associated Press. “People are scared of any situation where they would run into another person.” |
| In China, the national health commission said on Saturday that there were 397 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Friday, down from 889 cases a day earlier. | In China, the national health commission said on Saturday that there were 397 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Friday, down from 889 cases a day earlier. |
| That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 76,288. The death toll in mainland China had reached 2,345 as of the end of Friday. | That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 76,288. The death toll in mainland China had reached 2,345 as of the end of Friday. |
| The central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 106 new deaths, while in the provincial capital of Wuhan, 90 people died. | The central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 106 new deaths, while in the provincial capital of Wuhan, 90 people died. |
| Meanwhile, president Xi Jinping has written a letter expressing thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the organisation’s support in earlier this month committing up to $100m for the global response to coronavirus, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday. “I deeply appreciate the act of generosity … and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment,” Xi wrote. | Meanwhile, president Xi Jinping has written a letter expressing thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the organisation’s support in earlier this month committing up to $100m for the global response to coronavirus, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday. “I deeply appreciate the act of generosity … and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment,” Xi wrote. |
| Millions of people in China remain confined to their homes as the government tries to contain the spread of the virus, raising serious concerns about economy. | Millions of people in China remain confined to their homes as the government tries to contain the spread of the virus, raising serious concerns about economy. |
| But Liu Guoqiang, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, said on Saturday that borrowing costs would be guided downwards to help businesses stay afloat and that the impact of the virus would be “limited”. | But Liu Guoqiang, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, said on Saturday that borrowing costs would be guided downwards to help businesses stay afloat and that the impact of the virus would be “limited”. |
| As the World Health Organization warned on Friday that the window of opportunity to stop the spread of the virus was narrowing, it appeared to be spreading more widely across the world. Four people have now died from the virus in Iran and Italy recorded its first fatal case on Friday night. | As the World Health Organization warned on Friday that the window of opportunity to stop the spread of the virus was narrowing, it appeared to be spreading more widely across the world. Four people have now died from the virus in Iran and Italy recorded its first fatal case on Friday night. |
| The British government said that an evacuation flight had left Japan on Saturday morning with 32 British and European passengers from the ship on board, as well as British government and medical staff. | The British government said that an evacuation flight had left Japan on Saturday morning with 32 British and European passengers from the ship on board, as well as British government and medical staff. |
| The organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponed training for their army of volunteers on Saturday due to the coronavirus outbreak, but said that there was “no consideration” of cancelling the Games. | The organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponed training for their army of volunteers on Saturday due to the coronavirus outbreak, but said that there was “no consideration” of cancelling the Games. |
| In Australia, six people evacuated back to Darwin from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive to Covid-19. Another three people who have developed symptoms were being tested on Saturday. | In Australia, six people evacuated back to Darwin from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive to Covid-19. Another three people who have developed symptoms were being tested on Saturday. |
| There were 170 Australians on the evacuation flight and all were checked for symptoms before leaving Yokohama, where they had been kept on the ship. | There were 170 Australians on the evacuation flight and all were checked for symptoms before leaving Yokohama, where they had been kept on the ship. |
| Reuters, AFP and Associated Press contributed to this report. | Reuters, AFP and Associated Press contributed to this report. |