South Korea has reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus that has spread rapidly in the region surrounding its southwest city of Daegu, bringing its total number of cases to 763.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Officials on Monday also confirmed two more deaths of virus patients, bringing its death toll to seven.
South Korea's president said Sunday that he was putting his country on its highest alert for infectious diseases, ordering officials to take "unprecedented, powerful" steps to stem the spread of the outbreak.
President Moon Jae-in said his government had increased its anti-virus alert level to "Red," which allows for the temporary closure of schools and reduced operation of public transportation and flights to and from South Korea.
The new school year for kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools in South Korea has been put off by one week until March 9.
Moon said the outbreak "has reached a crucial watershed," and that the next few days will be critical. "We shouldn't be bound by regulations and hesitate to take unprecedented, powerful measures," he said.
Australian Associated Press