• February 27, 2020
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COVID-19 cases in South Korea top 1,200

A total of 1,261 cases of COVID-19 infections have been recorded in South Korea as of Wednesday, 26 February, with 284 new cases over the past 24 hours alone. The country has the most number of COVID-19 cases to date next to China, the epicentre of the outbreak.

The city of Daegu remains the worst hit, with 134 new infections recorded of yesterday’s 284 cases. Bulk of Korea’s cases have been noted in Daegu and the surrounding province of North Gyeongbuk.

Many link the spread of the virus to members of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a group often accused as a cult with over 200,000 members. A 61-year-old female member caught fever on 10 February, but went to at least four church services in Daegu prior to being diagnosed.

Amid mounting public clamour and pressure, the secretive religious sect promised to cooperate with the authorities and released its list of members. The Korean government has since begun testing all of its members for coronavirus symptoms.

An American soldier stationed at a camp about 20 kilometres of Daegu has also been infected. The South Korean military, meanwhile, has reported 20 cases on its bases and about 9,570 people in isolation.

At least 12 have died from COVID-19 in South Korea as of press time.