Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Jitters in South Korea as Coronavirus Cases Double for 3 Straight Days

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's capital banned large protests and
   prohibited gatherings of a religious group that has been a hotbed for
   coronavirus infections, as the outbreak continued to spread across the
   country.

   One hundred people tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the
   total number of South Korean infections to 204 as of late Friday,
   according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

   Though South Korean officials insist the outbreak is still
   "manageable," the number of virus cases here has now doubled for three
   consecutive days.

   Most of the new South Korean infections were linked to a fringe
   Christian group in Daegu, South Korea's fourth-largest city. The mayor
   of Daegu has warned residents to stay indoors. Many businesses have
   closed and schools have postponed classes.

   In Seoul, which also saw a surge of new infections, virtually all
   commuters on public buses and trains wore masks and exchanged nervous
   glances if someone sneezed or coughed.

   "It looks like a scene from a disaster movie," said Choi In-woo, a
   20-year-old freshman university student in the Gwanghwamun neighborhood
   of the Jongno district, which reported the most new cases in the
   capital this week.

   "I'm really scared if it lasts longer," said Choi, whose university has
   canceled orientation for the spring semester.

   The highly contagious virus, which causes a pneumonialike respiratory
   illness known as COVID-19, has killed 2,200 people and infected more
   than 75,000 worldwide.

   Nearly all of the coronavirus cases have been in China, where the virus
   originated. But South Korea now has the third most cases globally. So
   far, only one South Korean has died.

.