Coronavirus: in Daegu, the city most affected by the epidemic

Text by: RFI Follow

The third most affected country in the world, South Korea recorded a doubling of cases of coronavirus infections in the single day of Saturday. The country, which counts 556 people carrying this virus and four deaths, has also raised its level of alert to the highest, announces this Sunday morning its president, Moon Jae-in. Most cases have been reported in Daegu, the country's fourth city.

Publicity

with our special envoy to Daegu, Stéphane Lagarde

The screeching sound of coronavirus alerts resonates on the smartphone. Confirmed cases of contamination appear on the screen of the mobile phone as we cross the eastern entrance to the city.

To your masks! 2 cases of #coronavirus contamination confirmed in Busan, #CoreeDuSud pic.twitter.com/cw8UnMrfFM

Will Daegu become a new Wuhan? For the moment, cars are still circulating on concrete exchangers and the main avenues, but most of the shops are closed. Never before had a Saturday afternoon known such empty sidewalks, particularly in the Shincheonji sect church district - or Temple of the Testimony of the Testimony - where the majority of the cases identified were recorded.

One month after Wuhan in #China the #coronavirus arrived until Daegu in #CoreeDuSud pic.twitter.com/nNvqEB9MoU

Signs of concern that rises as the balance sheets ignite, inscriptions on white paper in large letters written by hand, flourished on the windows: "store closed due to epidemic" or "our restaurant n 'was able to open for lack of personnel'.

The mayor of Daegu (2.5 million inhabitants), Kwon Young-jin, reported on Sunday more than 90 new cases in his city where, in total, 247 inhabitants are now carriers of the new coronavirus.

Daegu and surrounding cities are now designated as "special care areas" to receive national support. City halls urge residents to stay at home and wear masks outside. Retirement homes are particularly monitored. And this Monday, February 24, the class will not resume this Monday in the 1,300 nursery schools in the 4th city of South Korea.

► Also to listen : Coronavirus, technical unemployment and worry

Daegu, South Korea, the facade of the Shincheonji church or sect: two thirds of new cases are linked to this church (February 22, 2020). REUTERS / Kim Hong-Ji

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• coronavirus
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• Health and Medicine

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