Coronavirus: foreigners in quarantine in Pyongyang. Record infections for Seoul

At present, there are no cases of Covid-19 in North Korea. But the country shares a long and porous border with China. About 3,000 people in North Pyongan province are under control because of suspicious symptoms. South Korea has the largest number of confirmed cases outside China: 763. Before 19 February, Seoul reported only 31.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korea has quarantined 380 foreigners - mostly diplomats stationed in the capital Pyongyang - in an attempt to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, South Korean media reported this morning, citing the Korean Central Broadcasting Committee - the regime's media.

Meanwhile, Seoul today reports another record spike in the number of new infections, most of which are concentrated in the southwestern city of Daegu. The latest 161 infections bring the total number in South Korea to 763. Yesterday a 62-year-old man died of the virus: now there are seven victims of the disease in South Korea.

At present, there are no cases of Covid-19 in North Korea. In the past 30 days, some 200 foreigners had already been confined to their residential complexes, but the quarantine has been prolonged. It is not known how long it will last, in light of the new provisions. The country shares a long and often porous border with China. There are concerns that Pyongyang, which is subject to international sanctions, does not have the health infrastructure to diagnose and treat infected people; that any outbreak can spread rapidly without control. North Korean authorities canceled the annual Pyongyang marathon, which typically sees the participation of people from all over the world. According to state media, around 3,000 people in the North Pyongan province - a northwestern region bordering China - are now under control because they exhibit suspicious symptoms.

South Korea has the largest number of confirmed cases outside China after the huge peak last week. Before 19 February, the country registered only 31 cases. That number has now increased to 763. Eight new cases of contagion have emerged in the army and one in the navy, air force and marine corps, bringing their number to 11. But the largest outbreaks of Covid-19 are linked to a hospital and a Christian-inspired sect near the southeastern city of Daegu. Some South Korean airlines, including Korean Air Lines (the largest national airline) have suspended flights to Daegu, which has a population of around 2.5 million.

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