South Korea reported on Wednesday its highest daily rise in novel coronavirus cases since early March as outbreaks from churches around the capital spread, prompting a warning of a nationwide wave of infections.
A woman wearing a mask walks down a street, as social distancing measures were implemented to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease , in Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul,?South Korea, August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Heo Ran
Nearly 90% of the new cases appeared in the capital, Seoul, and surrounding areas, raising concern of the rapid spread of the virus in a metropolitan area of more than 25 million people. At least 166 of the new infections are linked to the Sarang Jeil Church, taking the number of cases from it to 623.
Many of them also attended anti-government rallies in Seoul on the weekend where thousands of people gathered from across the country, raising fears infections were seeded there. At least three other smaller clusters have been traced to churches in Seoul and one to a church in the city of Yongin. More than 50 cases have been linked to a coffee outlet in the city of Paju.
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