As the new coronavirus spreads in South Korea, private software developers have set up websites and apps to help people track cases and shun places where infected people have been in the hope of avoiding the fast-spreading virus.
The government, stung by criticism of how it handled past outbreaks, initially released very detailed information on confirmed cases, including the age, gender and daily routes infected people took before being quarantined.
Identities were not published but the information that was enabled web developers to build detailed maps tracking the movements of patients. “We experienced a public backlash after a mass infection took place during the MERS outbreak five years ago, because we didn't make public where those patients had gone,” a health official, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters.
A button on one of the sites, Coronamap.live, is labelled “See whether I am safe”. A click shows users if there are any known coronavirus cases in their vicinity.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Korea reports 123 new coronavirus cases as China's infection rate climbs | IOL NewsSouth Korea has reported123 new cases and two more deaths from the coronavirus, while Chinese health authorities reported 648 new cases and 97 new deaths, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 76 936 while fatalities rose to 2 442.
Read more »
South Korea raises alert to highest level as coronavirus cases jumpThe escalation in the alert level allows the government to send extra resources to Daegu city and Cheongdo county, which were designated “special care zones” on Friday.
Read more »
PICS: Global concern over jump in coronavirus cases in South Korea, Italy and Iran | IOL NewsInternational concern about the spread of coronavirus outside China grew with sharp rises in infections in three countries - South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Read more »
South Sudan set to swear in former rebel leader as first vice presidentSouth Sudan's President Salva Kiir is due to swear in former rebel leader Riek Machar as his first vice president on Saturday after the two men agreed to form a unity government.
Read more »