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Coronavirus: South Korea’s cases hit 5,186 with 28 deaths as Moon Jae-in ‘declares war’
- South Korean president announced US$25 billion in funding to help combat the coronavirus
- WHO boss says ‘surveillance measures are working and Korea’s epidemic can still be contained’
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South Korea’s president declared war on the coronavirus on Tuesday, ordering additional hospital beds and more face masks to be made available as the number of cases rose by 851 in the worst epidemic of any nation outside China.
President Moon Jae-in apologised for shortages of face masks and promised support for virus-hit small businesses in Asia’s fourth-biggest economy, which has now reported 5,186 cases of the flu-like disease and 28 deaths.
“The entire country has entered war against the infectious disease as the crisis in Daegu and North Gyeongsang province has reached the highest point,” he told a cabinet meeting, referring to the two hardest-hit parts of the country.
“I am very sorry to the people that we are not able to supply masks swiftly and sufficiently, and have caused inconvenience.”
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Moon said the government will inject more than 30 trillion won (US$25 billion) into the economy to address the “grave” situation brought on by the outbreak.
The central bank has warned of a contraction in the first quarter for the world’s 12th-largest economy, noting the epidemic will hit both consumption and exports.
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