Coronavirus Spreads as New Cases Double in South Korea – The New York Times

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The only busy sites were government-run health centers, where citizens lined up to find out whether they were infected.

  • What do you need to know? Start here.

    Updated Feb. 10, 2020

    • What is a Coronavirus?
      It is a novel virus named for the crown-like spikes that protrude from its surface. The coronavirus can infect both animals and people, and can cause a range of respiratory illnesses from the common cold to more dangerous conditions like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS.
    • How contagious is the virus?
      According to preliminary research, it seems moderately infectious, similar to SARS, and is possibly transmitted through the air. Scientists have estimated that each infected person could spread it to somewhere between 1.5 and 3.5 people without effective containment measures.
    • How worried should I be?
      While the virus is a serious public health concern, the risk to most people outside China remains very low, and seasonal flu is a more immediate threat.
    • Who is working to contain the virus?
      World Health Organization officials have praised China’s aggressive response to the virus by closing transportation, schools and markets. This week, a team of experts from the W.H.O. arrived in Beijing to offer assistance.
    • What if I’m traveling?
      The United States and Australia are temporarily denying entry to noncitizens who recently traveled to China and several airlines have canceled flights.
    • How do I keep myself and others safe?
      Washing your hands frequently is the most important thing you can do, along with staying at home when you’re sick.

The scare deepened across South Korea as the number of patients soared and two more deaths from the virus were reported.

A 40-year-old worker at an auto-parts factory in Gyeongju, a city near Daegu, was found dead at his home on Friday evening. He was posthumously confirmed on Saturday to have been infected with the coronavirus. A 56-year-old patient from a hospital in Chengdo, another town near Daegu, died on Sunday, health officials said.

On Friday, the first reported case in Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, caused public libraries, horse racetracks and facilities for senior citizens to close. Many churches offered services only online. Others stayed open, but skipped hymns or “Amens” to limit the possibility of congregants’ exposure.

The cities of Chuncheon and Ulsan reported their first cases on Saturday, and the national news agency Yonhap reported that people there were emptying shelves of rice, instant noodle, eggs and other essential food items.

The number of coronavirus cases in South Korea also set off alarms in Israel, after nine South Korean visitors tested positive for the virus upon returning home. They had spent a week touring popular, often-crowded Israeli religious sites. On Saturday, Israel tightened its border and barred South Korean travelers.

Discussions whether to allow other flights from South Korea to Tel Aviv were planned for Sunday, Kan radio said. Health officials were working with the tourism ministry and travel agencies to book flights back to South Korea for the 1,700 South Korean tourists in Israel.

Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/22/world/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-iran.html

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