Global Concerns Rise as New Clusters of COVID-19 Emerge in Multiple Countries
Thousands of members from a secretive religious sect in South Korea are being screened for the novel coronavirus, part of over 78,000 global cases. Concerns heighten as clusters with unclear origins surface in countries like Singapore, Iran, and South Korea. The World Health Organization expresses worry over escalating situations in Iran and cases with no known links or travel history. Despite most cases showing mild symptoms, difficulties in tracing transmissions persist.
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Thousands of members of a secretive religious sect in South Korea are being screened for the new coronavirus after more than 430 cases were confirmed in the country by officials, one of several fresh clusters of the disease globally. sect : Clusters:
More than 78,000 people around the world have been infected by the Covid- 19 virus, with most cases in mainland China, though clusters that have unclear origins have emerged in Singapore, Iran and South Korea. clusters :
In Iran, a fifth death was confirmed on Saturday, prompting Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, to say he was especially concerned about the country.
So far, 28 cases have been identified across four cities, but experts have speculated that many more infections are likely to remain undetected, and it is believed cases that have since appeared in Canada and Lebanon are linked to Iran. Infections in the country are believed to have begun in the city of Qom, but it is unclear how. Speculated:
There is also uncertainty in Singapore, where eight out of 85 infections appear to have no links to previous cases, and in South Korea, where links to a controversial church are being investigated. controversial :
On Saturday, Ghebreyesus expressed concern about cases that have been identified where a patient has had no contact with a confirmed infected person, and has not travelled to China.
Although the total number of Covid-19 cases outside China remains relatively small, we are concerned about the number of cases with no clear epidemiological link, he said.
Most people who contract the disease experience mild symptoms, making transmission hard to trace. The virus s fatality rate is about 2%, according to initial data from China.
Andrew Tatem, a professor within geography and environmental science at the University of Southampton, said: Prior to the recent news of apparent outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Iran, it seemed like the relatively low number of cases outside of China and with no link to travelling there pointed to hope that the virus could be contained. This recent news, particularly regarding Iran, is especially worrying.
In the South Korean city of Daegu, where most of the country s cases have been concentrated, officials are racing to screen worshippers who they believe may have been exposed to the virus at a service run by a controversial church. worshippers : Service:
The citys 2.5 million people have been advised to stay in their homes if possible, while officials are sending medical supplies and clinical staff. Across Daegu and nearby areas, 354 cases have been recorded.
Yoon-sook Lee, a restaurant owner in Yulha-dong, Daegu, said the city s streets were deserted. Those who are outside are half-running as if they are all in a hurry or being chased, she said, adding that people had been stockpiling water and instant noodles. stockpiling :
Im starting to feel panicky as Im worried about my family. I have young children so I m worried about them. I m also getting really worried about how long this will go on as it will affect our family s income, she said. Her restaurant provides catering for events, but all orders have been cancelled. Catering:
About 230 cases in South Korea have been linked to the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, while scores of cases on a mental health ward at Cheongdo hospital may also be related to the sect. ward :
The exact source of these infections remains unclear. While health officials are trying to trace more than 1,000 people who had contact with a 61-year- old woman who attended services at the church.
Italy has recorded two deaths linked to the virus, prompting officials to place dozens of towns in Lombardy and Veneto, in the north of the country, under effective lockdown. Confirmed case numbers in the country have risen to 52.
In China, where more than 2,300 people have died in the outbreak, there were 397 additional cases on Friday. Tedros said the biggest concern continued to be the potential for Covid- 19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems.
