Coronavirus Outbreak: South Korea to launch mass coronavirus testing, US pledges $1 billion for vaccine

Date:

Trending

South Korea aims to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the center of a surge in coronavirus cases, as countries stepped up efforts to stop a pandemic of the virus that emerged in China and is now spreading in Europe and the Middle East.

- Advertisement -

More than 80,000 people have been infected in China since the outbreak began, apparently in an illegal wildlife market in the central city of Wuhan late last year.

China’s death toll was 2,663 by the end of Monday, up 71 from the previous day. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the epidemic in China peaked between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2 and has been declining since.

- Advertisement -

However, fast-spreading outbreaks in Iran, Italy and South Korea, and first cases in several Middle East countries, have fed worries of a pandemic, or worldwide spread of the virus.

“We are close to a pandemic, but there is still hope the epidemics in Iran, Italy, South Korea, etc. can be controlled,” said Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales.

South Korea has the most virus cases outside China and reported its tenth death and 144 new cases, for a total of 977. President Moon Jae-in said the situation was “very grave”.

In Europe, Italy has become a new front line, with 220 cases reported on Monday, up from just three on Friday. The death toll in Italy is seven.

Global stock markets stabilized on Tuesday after a wave of early selling petered out and Wall Street futures managed a solid bounce after a sharp selloff the previous day on fears about the spreading coronavirus.

“If travel restrictions and supply chain disruptions spread, the impact on global growth could be more widespread and longer lasting,” said Jonas Goltermann, senior economist at research consultancy Capital Economics in London.

PUBLIC ANXIETY

About 68% of South Korea’s cases are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where the outbreak is believed to have begun with a 61-year-old woman. It is not known how she became infected.

The church said it would provide authorities the names of all its members in South Korea, estimated by media at about 215,000 people. The government would test them all as soon as possible, the prime minister’s office said.

“It is essential to test all of the church members,” it said in a statement. Authorities said they were testing up to 13,000 people a day.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries have said they may cut back joint training due to the virus, in one of the first concrete signs of its fallout on global U.S. military activities.

The disclosure came during a visit to the Pentagon on Monday by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who said 13 South Korean troops had the virus. (Graphic: Tracking the novel coronavirus – here)

The U.S. military said a woman who tested positive for the virus had visited one of its bases in the hard-hit city of Daegu. It was the first infection connected to U.S. Forces Korea, which has about 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

The U.S. military urged troops to “use extreme caution” off base, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should avoid non-essential travel to South Korea.

IRAN ISOLATION

Outside mainland China, the outbreak has spread to about 29 countries and territories, with a death toll of about three dozen, according to a Reuters tally.

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman reported their first new coronavirus cases, all in people who had been to Iran where the toll was 14 dead, media said, and 61 infected.

The outbreak threatens to isolate Iran further. The United Arab Emirates, which has 13 virus cases, suspended all flights with Iran for at least a week, state media said.

Iraq extended an entry ban on travelers from China and Iran to those from five other countries over virus fears, its health ministry said.

In Japan, which has reported four deaths and 850 cases mostly linked to a cruise ship, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said it was too early to talk about cancelling the Tokyo Olympics due to start on July 24.

The United States pledged $2.5 billion to fight the disease, with more than $1 billion going toward developing a vaccine, with other funds earmarked for therapeutics and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment such as masks.

China reported a rise in new cases in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak. But excluding those, China had just nine new infections on Monday, its fewest since Jan. 20.

With the pace of new infections slowing, Beijing said restrictions on travel and movement that have paralyzed economic activity should begin to be lifted.

“Low-risk areas … are to restore order in production and life, cancel transport restrictions and help enterprises,” state planner official Ou Xiaoli told a briefing.

Reporting by Ryan Woo, Yilei Sun and Lusha Zhang in Beijing; Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith in Seoul; Jeff Mason and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Michael Perry and Robert Birsel; Editing by Stephen Coates & Simon Cameron-Moore

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Sells Meta Shares Worth $17.8 Million

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation sold 25,302 shares of Meta Platforms Inc. between June 16 and June 20, 2025, according to disclosures filed with...

Football: Real Madrid beat CF Pachuca 3-1 in Group H clash

Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler scored late in the first half to help 10-man Real Madrid secure a 3-1 victory over CF Pachuca in a Group H clash on Sunday. Federico Valverde’s sliding volley in the 70th minute sealed Xabi Alonso’s first win as Madrid...

IAEA expresses ‘serious concern’ after US strikes on Iran

In response to U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the head of the International...

Iran pledges decisive action after US airstrikes on nuclear sites

An emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was convened in Vienna...

Finding the Right Custom Home Builder in Bay City: Reviews & Recommendations

Building a new home is one of life’s most exciting milestones—but it also comes...

Pichai Family Foundation to Sell 4,000 Alphabet Shares Worth $708K

The Pichai Family Foundation filed a notice with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission...

Zuckerberg Offloads $5.8 Mn More in Meta Shares as June Sales Top $37 Million

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has filed to sell another $5.8 million worth of company...

Iran May Exit Nuclear Treaty Under New Bill

Iranian parliamentarians are drafting a bill that could pave the way for the country...

GW Casino Review & FAQ: Real Talk for Aussie Punters

With the avalanche of cookie-cutter online casinos hitting Aussie screens, most punters have seen it all—flashy banners, “unbeatable bonuses,” dodgy spins, and recycled features...

NSE India, Cyprus Stock Exchange Sign MoU for Dual Listings, Financial Innovation

India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Cyprus Stock Exchange signed a memorandum of...

Mark Zuckerberg Sells $21 Mn in Meta Shares, Files to Offload $9 Mn More

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg has filed to sell another $9.7 million...

Sri Lanka To Raise Electricity Tariff By 15 Percent

Sri Lanka will increase electricity tariffs by 15% starting June 12, the Public Utilities...

36 Bangladeshi Nationals Held Without Visas in Delhi

The Delhi Police has apprehended 36 Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India. The dedicated...

Congo: Over 29 dead as floods, landslides hit Kinshasa

At least 29 people died in Kinshasa after heavy rains over the weekend triggered floods and landslides, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ministry reported...

Sharp Bettors vs Recreational Bettors: What Sets Them Apart?

In the U.S. alone, over $120 billion was legally wagered on sports in 2023, and analysts estimate that offshore and crypto sportsbooks handled an additional $50–75 billion. But here’s the thing: only a fraction of that action comes from bettors who actually win long-term....

Security Forces Deploy Facial Recognition Tech on Pahalgam Route to Secure Shri Amarnath Yatra

Jammu and Kashmir: In a first-of-its-kind move, security forces have installed advanced facial recognition...

Air India Plane Crash: Over 60 victims identified via DNA

Days after Air India’s Ahmedabad-to-London flight crashed with 242 passengers and crew on board,...

Civil Aviation Ministry: High-Level Panel to Probe Air India Flight Crash

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has constituted a high-level multi-disciplinary committee to investigate the...

ISRO Schedules June 19 for Ax-4 Mission Launch Carrying Indian Astronaut to ISS

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday announced that the Ax-4 mission to...

India Distances Itself from SCO Stance on Israel’s Attack On Iran, Calls for Dialogue

India has opted out of a recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) statement that strongly...

Los Angeles Protests: President Trump Deploys 700 Marines, 200 to Secure Federal Building

As nationwide protests against the Trump administration are expected to unfold across the U.S....

Typhoon Wutip Hits Hainan China

Typhoon Wutip, the first named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, lashed China’s...

Meta’s Chief Legal Officer Offloads $363,219 in Shares Under Pre-Arranged Plan

Meta Platforms Inc.’s Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead sold 519 shares of the company’s...

BGC Director Arthur Mbanefo Sells Shares Worth Over $295k Amid Company Buyback

Arthur U. Mbanefo, a board member at BGC Group Inc., sold a total of...

Sri Lanka To Raise Electricity Tariff By 15 Percent

Sri Lanka will increase electricity tariffs by 15% starting June 12, the Public Utilities...

What You Need to Consider When Starting an HVAC Company

Entering the HVAC industry is a significant business decision that comes with both challenges...

Cybersecurity Theater: Why Companies Still Fall for the Illusion of Control

The world now experiences daily security breaches on evening news while ransomware groups operate...

Football: Messi, Trezeguet Miss as Inter Miami Draw Al Ahly in Club World Cup Opener

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami were held to a goalless draw by Egypt’s Al Ahly...

ICG Transfers Distressed MV Wan Hai 503 to Tug Offshore Warrior in Kochi

In a key maritime operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully transferred the tow...

36 Bangladeshi Nationals Held Without Visas in Delhi

The Delhi Police has apprehended 36 Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India. The dedicated...

Meta’s Chief Legal Officer Offloads $363,219 in Shares Under Pre-Arranged Plan

Meta Platforms Inc.’s Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead sold 519 shares of the company’s...

Alphabet Shareholders Reject All 13 Proposals, Re-elect Entire Board

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) shareholders rejected all 13 investor proposals at the company’s annual...

BGC Director Arthur Mbanefo Sells Shares Worth Over $295k Amid Company Buyback

Arthur U. Mbanefo, a board member at BGC Group Inc., sold a total of...