As China's infection numbers gradually slow down, South Korea and Italy reported a spike in new cases. The news came as researchers warned that the outbreak outside China has just began.
Cases in South Korea Surge Above 550
South Korean health officials confirmed on Saturday that CoVID-19 cases have reached 556, with four deaths recorded in the country, CNN reported.
Authorities said an estimated 50 percent of the cases were traced back to a religious group, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The said group had been holding mass services in Daegu, a southern city in South Korea.
According to the South Korean Centers for Disease Control (KCDC), a response team was sent to Daegu to carry out investigations as well as disinfection measures on the cluster linked to the surge in cases in the country.
Thousands of Shincheonji Members Quarantined
The KCDC also revealed that it has placed over 9,000 members of the said church cluster in self-quarantine following the discovery of links to the confirmed cases and the mass services.
According to The Guardian, thousands of other Shincheonji members have also been screened for potential coronavirus infection. The recent screenings resulted in 123 new coronavirus patients in South Korea.
As part of the efforts to hopefully contain the virus, the South Korean government declared Daegu as a special care zone. Neighboring county Cheongdo was also added to the country's special care zones for extra precaution.
As of Sunday morning, there the number of people being monitored for potential coronavirus infection in South Korea has reached 6,039. A total of 18 people have fully recovered and were discharged.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin also said on Sunday that residents of the county should stay indoors as the situation has reached a "grave" stage.
Italy Acts Fast Following Two Coronavirus Deaths
Two Italian citizens have died from the novel coronavirus, Italy confirmed on Saturday, prompting the government to roll out new measures to battle the virus.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Saturday that "extraordinary measures" will be taken to help keep the virus from spreading further in the country, BBC reported.
The new medical measures include the quarantine of several towns around the northern regions of Veneto and Lombardy. Residents will also be forbidden to leave the said outbreak areas without special permission from the authorities.
Conte noted that local police, as well as armed forces have been given the authority to clamp down on people who refuse to abide by the new regulations.
Some Italian Schools Shut Down amid Outbreak
Aside from stricter measures in outbreak regions, some schools and restaurants around the said areas have also been shut down to prevent further infections among Italian citizens.
Milan's mayor also ordered the temporary halting of operations in public offices. Even some religious services and sporting events were canceled or postponed for fear that the ongoing outbreak would put the public's health at risk.
In Italy, 79 people are confirmed to have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus. 54 of the said patients are in Lombardy, while 17 others are in Veneto.
Outside China, at least 17 people have died, including the two deaths in Italy and four in South Korea.
