Coronavirus: South Korea cases reach 7,869 as new clusters identified at call centre and dance school
- Government urges high-risk organisations to take extra prevention measures, including remote working, staggered shifts and greater separation between office desks
- It identified call centres, private academies, karaoke bars, computer cafes and sport facilities as among places most at risk
The new cases bring the country’s total to 7,869, with 66 deaths, as health officials seek to track down and contain a number of new clusters of infections, including at a call centre in the capital city of Seoul.
The numbers are far lower than the peak of 909 cases reported on February 29, and health officials said the trend does appear to be slowing in what has been the largest outbreak in Asia outside China.
Still, authorities say the coming days will be crucial in South Korea’s fight to contain the outbreak, and the government will double down on its efforts to prevent new clusters from spreading.
“It is too early to say we are overcoming the disease,” Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy, said at a briefing.
“We are still witnessing sporadic outbreaks so we cannot lower our guard.”
New clusters at the call centre in the capital Seoul, and among teachers and students of a dance school with classes around the country, have kept authorities on high alert for a fresh spike in infections.
At least 102 people working in the call centre have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Nearly 800 employees of the firm and 200 residents of the building have been tested, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said.
“Containing the spread from the call centre is decisive in blocking additional transmission of the coronavirus,” Park said. “We will focus all necessary personal and material support on the area.”
Many of the workers who tested positive were found to have used the subway and buses for their daily commute, prompting extensive disinfection work around key stations, city officials said.
The government urged high-risk organisations to take extra prevention measures, including remote working, staggered shifts and greater separation between office desks. It identified call centres, private academies, karaoke bars, computer cafes and sport facilities as among places most at risk.
President Moon Jae-in visited health officials at the KCDC headquarters in Cheongju, 140km (87 miles) south of Seoul, for the first time since the crisis began. He encouraged officials to increase their efforts to contain the virus.
“There has been a stagnating trend in Daegu cases despite a slight increase today,” Yoon said.
“The situation happening in the Seoul metropolitan area is unlikely to lead to that of the Daegu region … but we will make maximum efforts to stave off further spread.”
