Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Countries Reopen After Flattening Coronavirus Curve

Eunjung Cho

   WASHINGTON - Several countries inEurope and Asiaaregradually
   easingtheircoronavirus lockdownsthis week. Fromextensivetesting to
   strict socialdistancing, thesecountries took aggressive measures before
   cautiouslylifting some restrictions.

   On Monday, South Korealiftedclosure advisories on high-risk venuessuch
   aschurches, barsand sporting facilities. The number of new
   infectionshaddropped toasingledigit the daybefore.

   "We have the room to consider balancing infection control and economic
   activities,"said South Korean Prime Minister ChungSye-kyun, while
   announcing eased rules on socialdistancing Sunday.

   Dr. Kent Calder, director of theCenter forEast Asian Studiesat the
   Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies,told VOAthatEast
   Asian countries including Korea, Taiwanand Singaporeemployed rigorous
   contacttracing tocontain the virussuccessfully.

   "Contact tracing, including digital techniques,is especially
   important.'¦Tracking infected individuals so that society generally can
   operate more freely,"Caldersaid.

   He added widespread testingshouldsupport the tracing efforts. South
   Korea has, to date, tested more than 500,000 people, among the highest
   number in the world per capita.

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