S. Korea becomes biggest coronavirus centre outside China
Last updated on: 24 February,2020 07:30 am
South Korea reported 161 more coronavirus cases Monday, taking the nationwide total to 763.
SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea reported 161 more coronavirus cases Monday, taking the nationwide total to 763 and making it the world s largest total outside China.
The country has seen a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus cases since a cluster of infections emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu last week.
Most of the country s cases are connected to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu, including 129 of Monday s confirmations, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
Two more people had died, it added -- both of them connected to a second cluster around a hospital in Cheongdo -- taking the toll to seven.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday raised the country s virus alert to the highest "red" level, in a bid to strengthen the government response to the spiralling outbreak.
The government has extended kindergarten and school holidays by one week nationwide and plans to enforce tighter two-week monitoring of arrivals from China.