BANGKOK (AP) – South Korea reported 23 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, mostly from the densely populated Seoul area where authorities shut down thousands of nightclubs, bars and karaoke rooms to stem transmissions.
Meanwhile, China, where the pandemic began late last year, reported no new confirmed cases for the first time since it began announcing infections in January.
South sinopsis drama Korea has now confirmed 11,165 cases, including 266 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Thirteen of the new cases came from Gyeonggi province surrounding Seoul, which on Saturday ordered the closure of an additional 2,629 bars and karaoke rooms, bringing the number of shut entertainment venues to 8,363.
South Korea was reporting around 500 new cases a day in early March before using aggressive tracing and testing to stabilize its outbreak. But there´s growing concern over the steady rise of infections in the greater capital area, where about half of South Korea´s 51 million people live. It came after health authorities relaxed social distancing guidelines and allowed a phased reopening of schools, starting with high school seniors on Wednesday.
More than 200 of the recent infections have been linked to club-goers in the Seoul metropolitan area.
At least 1,204 cases have been traced to international arrivals, although such infections have slowed after the country strengthened border controls in April, enforcing two-week quarantines on all overseas passengers.
A baby with a face shield waits to board a plane at an airport in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province Saturday, May 23, 2020. China on Saturday reported no new confirmed cases or deaths from the new coronavirus. (Kyodo News via AP)
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- NO NEW CASES IN CHINA: China reported no new confirmed infections or deaths and only two suspected cases in last the 24 hours. That added to evidence that the country has largely overcome the epidemic that began in the central industrial city of Wuhan. The National Health Commission said 79 patients were still being treated as of Friday. Some 376 others are in isolation and being monitored as either suspected cases or for testing positive without showing symptoms. China has reported a total of 82,971 cases, including 4,634 deaths.
- JAPAN NIGHTCLUBS GET COVID INSTRUCTIONS: The Japanese association representing workers at nightclubs and hostess bars is instructing people to wear masks and disinfect doorknobs and tables every 30 minutes. The guidelines said karaoke microphones must be cleaned after each use, and workers should wash their hands and gargle every 30 minutes. A customer and worker can sit together, but one empty seat must be kept in between another customer. Visitors from abroad who didn´t undergo a 14-day quarantine will be refused at the door. More than a million women are estimated to work at cabarets, with more at the cheaper places. Their income has plunged amid the outbreak, as major companies instruct employees to work from home. The government´s stay-home request has been lifted in much of Japan but remains in Tokyo. Japan has more than 16,500 confirmed virus cases, including 796 deaths.
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A lab technician holds a bottle containing results for COVID-19 vaccine testing at the National Primate Research Center, run by Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi Province, north of Bangkok, Saturday, May 23, 2020. Thai health officials said that scientists in Thailand have had promising results in testing a COVID-19 vaccine candidate on mice, and have begun testing on monkeys. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A long-tailed macaque which is kept for use in the clinical research is seen inside cage at National Primate Research Center, run by Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi Province, north of Bangkok, Saturday, May 23, 2020. Thai health officials said that scientists in Thailand have had promising results in testing a COVID-19 vaccine candidate on mice, and has begun testing on monkeys. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Members of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces attend the annual live fire exercise at the Higashi-Fuji firing range in Gotemba in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, Saturday, May 23, 2020.(Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP)
Members of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force attend during an annual live firing exercise at Higashi Fuji range in Gotemba, southwest of Tokyo Saturday, May 23, 2020. (Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP)
