South Korea on highest alert over Covid

Codogno/Shanghai, February 23

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South Korea went on high alert on Sunday following a sharp jump in coronavirus cases and Italy and Iran took their own drastic containment steps as an epidemic that has killed nearly 2,500 persons in China continued a relentless global expansion.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also warned that Africa’s poor health systems left it vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease, which spilled out of China to more than 25 countries.

South Korea is raising the nation’s alert to its “highest” level, President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday after the number of infections nearly tripled over the weekend to 556.

Led by an outbreak cluster in a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu, South Korea now has the most infections outside of China apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan, which has seen more than 600.

Venice Carnival to be halted

Venice: The last two days of the Venice Carnival, which draws tourists from around the world, have been cancelled because of an outbreak of coronavirus, head of the Veneto region Luca Zaia said on Sunday. Zaia said events scheduled for Sunday in the lagoon city would continue as planned. “But as of this evening there will be a ban on the Venice Carnival as well as on all events, sporting as well, until March 1 inclusive,” he said. Reuters

‘Virus biggest health emergency’

Beijing: President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is China’s “largest public health emergency” as the death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,442 and the number of infections hit almost 77,000 in the country. Xi, who attended a meeting here to double efforts in coordinating the prevention and control of the outbreak, said the epidemic “has the fastest transmission, widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control”. PTI

“The next few days will be crucial,” Moon said following a government meeting on the virus.

“The government will raise the alert level to the highest level according to experts’ recommendations.” Moon did not specify what those measures may include.

South Korea reported 123 new cases and two deaths on Sunday, taking the countrywide toll of fatalities to four.

More than 300 cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus sect in Daegu — whose founder claims the mantle of Jesus Christ and vows to take 1,44,000 people with him to heaven on judgment day.

Some 9,300 Shincheonji members have either been quarantined or asked to stay at home, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 1,240 have reported symptoms.

Elsewhere, Italy and Iran began introducing the sort of containment measures previously seen only in China, which has put tens of millions of people under quarantine lockdown in the epicentre province of Hubei.

More than 50,000 persons in about a dozen northern Italian towns near the business hub of Milan were urged by the authorities to stay home, while shops and schools were shuttered.

With dozens of cases, Italy on Friday became the first European country to report one of its nationals had died from the virus, followed by a second death on Saturday. Both were elderly.

The government was weighing “extraordinary measures” to halt further infections, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said.

China reported another 97 deaths in its daily update Sunday, taking its total to 2,442, plus 648 new infections. Nearly 80,000 people have been infected worldwide, the vast majority in China.

Japan on Sunday confirmed that a woman who tested negative and disembarked from the Diamond Princess later tested positive. Similar instances have been reported elsewhere.

Japan has been criticised over its handling of the cruise ship. Many passengers were allowed to disembark without being properly tested or despite having close contact with infected people. More than 1,000 crew remain on board and are expected to serve a 14-day quarantine. — AFP