COVID-19: South Korea records 21 new cases
SEOUL: South Korea reported today, a cluster of new coronavirus infections at a single clinic, in the southeastern city of Chilgok, that could mark the latest case of mass infection in the country, reported Yonhap news agency.
21 additional cases came from the facility, located 280 kilometres, southeast of Seoul which houses of people with disabilities.
The mass infections came one day after a 46-year-old patient at the facility was diagnosed with the infection of COVID-19.
There were a total of 69 patients and staff workers at the Chilgok facility, according to health authorities.
All 69 have been tested for the novel virus, and those diagnosed with the disease will soon be admitted to nearby hospitals.
The remaining 47, who have tested negative will still be quarantined at the facility, they said.
South Korea has so far reported 893 confirmed cases after reporting its first one on Jan 20. Nine people have died as of today due to medical complications caused by the novel coronavirus.
The country reported its first cluster of infections at a church in Daegu, south of Chilgok.
As of yesterday, 450 confirmed cases had been linked to the church, located 300 kilometres south of Seoul.
The country has identified at least three other cases of mass infection.
Over 110 people, including nine medical workers, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at a hospital in Cheongdo, located at south of Daegu in North Gyeongsang Province.
While 30 people from a Catholic church, in the province have also been infected with the disease following their trips to Israel between Feb 8-16.
Where and when the Catholic pilgrims were infected is still not clear.
So far, 731 confirmed cases have been reported in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, accounting for more than 81% of the total, according to health authorities.
Partly to prevent additional cluster infections, the government has raised its alert level to the highest, while it is also advising people to avoid crowds whenever possible.
In addition, the health ministry said it will test all patients at closed wards in 420 mental hospitals throughout the nation.
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