SOUTH Korea reported 60 more Covid-19 cases today, the smallest increase in four days according to the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (KCDC) morning updates.

The country now has 893 cases, said KCDC – the largest national total outside China – adding that one more person has died, taking the toll to eight.

Over the last three days, KCDC reported triple-digit increases each morning as the outbreak took hold in South Korea, the world’s 12th-largest economy.

The country has an advanced medical system, a free press and a strong culture of public accountability, and observers said its health statistics can be treated with confidence.

Despite the smaller number of infections, authorities urged the public to exercise extra caution, advising citizens to stay home if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

“The government will put the highest priority on the people’s health and lives, and put all its efforts into preventing the spread of Covid-19 in the community,” said Health Vice-Minister Kim Gang-lip.

Of the latest cases, 49 are in the southern city of Daegu and neighbouring North Gyeongsang province, said KCDC.

The streets of Daegu – the country’s fourth-largest city, with a population of 2.5 million – have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at a few shops selling masks.

Mask manufacturers have increased their total output to 10 million a day, but availability remains limited, and the government said it will ban people from exporting face coverings.

Masks have become standard wear throughout the country, and scores of events have been cancelled or postponed, from K-pop concerts to the start of the K-league football season.

The Korean Basketball League became the latest to take action today, saying it will hold matches behind closed doors “until the situation improves”.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advised travellers to “avoid all non-essential travel” to South Korea.

Hong Kong said it will not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from the South came into force earlier today.

Most of the country’s infections are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, an entity often accused of being a cult.

A 61-year-old female member developed a fever on February 10, but attended at least four church services before being diagnosed.

With public criticism growing, Shincheonji’s founder, Lee Man-hee, in a statement today said the group will provide the government with a list of all its members to have them tested for the virus.

“It will be done under the premise that the government will protect the privacy of our members.”

The organisation previously called its members the “biggest victims” of the coronavirus.

Parliament cancelled sessions today, with the building closed for cleaning after confirmation that a person with the virus attended a meeting last week. It is set to reopen tomorrow morning.

The leader of the main opposition United Future party, Hwang Kyo-ahn, was tested along with other senior party officials as they had come into contact with the patient, but all tested negative. – AFP, February 25, 2020.