On Monday, June 8, sixth death from MERS coronavirus in South Korea was announced by Ministry of health, and a strong increase in new infections consecutive to the epidemic , the largest outside of Saudi Arabia .
Only two weeks before authorities had identified only four cases of contamination. Their numbers have now increased to 87 , including six deaths. The Sixth death from MERS coronavirus in South Korea to date concerns an octogenarian diagnosed in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul , died in hospital , said local authorities.
An 80-year-old man, who tested positive for the virus last week while being treated for pneumonia, died Monday and became the country’s sixth death linked to MERS, according to a statement from the Health Ministry.
More than 2 000 people in quarantine
Approximately 2,300 people were placed in quarantine at home or in hospital, while nearly 1,900 schools nationwide, mostly located in Seoul and neighboring Gyeonggi Province, were closed.
The South Korean authorities, accused of having been slow to take steps to identify potential carriers after diagnosis of the first infected, promised on Sunday a campaign “all-out” to limit the spread of the epidemic.
They announced that they would in particular monitor the movements of persons quarantined at home via their mobile phone. Hundreds of public events, school trips and sports events were canceled.
