SEOUL: South Korea reported fewer than 120 new coronavirus cases on Thursday (Mar 12), but authorities warned that a new cluster in Seoul could see the infection spread in the capital.
Around 100 people linked to a call centre in the city have tested positive for the virus in recent days.
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"This could lead to a 'super spread' in the metropolitan area, where half of the entire population are concentrated," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting on Thursday.
READ: COVID-19 outbreak 'a pandemic' – WHO chief
So far, nearly 90 per cent of South Korea's cases have been in the southern city of Daegu and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.
The South was the first country to report significant coronavirus numbers outside China, where the disease first emerged, and remains one of the world's worst-affected countries despite being overtaken by both Italy and Iran in declared cases.
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READ: China's coronavirus epicentre Hubei sees single-digit cases for first time
READ: Italy shuts stores across country to fight coronavirus
A total of 114 infections were confirmed Wednesday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said, taking the South's total to 7,869.
Six more people died, it added, with the toll rising to 66.
Each morning the South announces how many cases were diagnosed the previous day, and Wednesday's figure is well below the 500 to 600 increases the country was confirming in early March.
More than 60 per cent of the country's infections are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious secRead More – Source
SEOUL: South Korea reported fewer than 120 new coronavirus cases on Thursday (Mar 12), but authorities warned that a new cluster in Seoul could see the infection spread in the capital.
Around 100 people linked to a call centre in the city have tested positive for the virus in recent days.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"This could lead to a 'super spread' in the metropolitan area, where half of the entire population are concentrated," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting on Thursday.
READ: COVID-19 outbreak 'a pandemic' – WHO chief
So far, nearly 90 per cent of South Korea's cases have been in the southern city of Daegu and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.
The South was the first country to report significant coronavirus numbers outside China, where the disease first emerged, and remains one of the world's worst-affected countries despite being overtaken by both Italy and Iran in declared cases.
Advertisement
Advertisement
READ: China's coronavirus epicentre Hubei sees single-digit cases for first time
READ: Italy shuts stores across country to fight coronavirus
A total of 114 infections were confirmed Wednesday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said, taking the South's total to 7,869.
Six more people died, it added, with the toll rising to 66.
Each morning the South announces how many cases were diagnosed the previous day, and Wednesday's figure is well below the 500 to 600 increases the country was confirming in early March.
More than 60 per cent of the country's infections are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious secRead More – Source
