Coronavirus: no new local contamination recorded in South Korea

The country has never used containment, but has taken strong measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. REUTERS / Heo Ran

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South Korea today took a significant step in its fight against the Covid-19. For the first time since February 15, she recorded no new local infections in 24 hours. But despite this success, the government maintains strict precautionary measures.

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With our correspondent in Seoul, Frédéric Ojardias

South Korea was one of the first countries affected by the epidemic after China, and it has a remarkable record: less than 11,000 infected in total, 247 dead, and no local contamination on Wednesday. Only four new cases have indeed been reported and they all came from outside, that is to say people who tested positive upon arrival at a South Korean airport. The legislative elections of April 15 did not cause a spike in infections , while 29 million people went to vote.

However, the authorities remain cautious: museums and schools are still closed, and the crèches that remain open force children to wear a mask all day. Next week the soccer championship will resume, in empty stadiums.

No confinement but a “quarantine of daily life”

The authorities have introduced what they call a "quarantine of daily life": staying at home if you are sick, maintaining a safety distance of two meters, often ventilating buildings. Companies and schools will be invited to designate a person responsible for enforcing these rules.

► Also read: Coronavirus: four Asian democracies at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19

South Korea also plans to provide medical services to undocumented migrants. The country has never used containment. According to the Yonhap agency , a total of 620,000 South Koreans have already been tested on a population of 50 million.

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  • South Korea
  • Coronavirus
  • Health and Medicine

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