South Korea city deserted after church COVID-19 'super-spreader' infects 37 people

Italy, in the meantime, scrambles to look for patient zero

CHINA-HEALTH/SOUTHKOREA South Korea's President Moon Jae-in encourages employees during his visit to a medical center in Daegu, South Korea | Reuters

602 people in South Korea have been infected by the deadly COVID-19 or the coronavirus. At least 37 of them have been infected thanks to a super-spreader woman, who gave the infection to those at her church congregation. 

Worshippers at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus were infected last week by the 61-year-old woman who attends the church. The woman who developed a fever on February 10, attended four church services before she was diagnosed with COVID-19. While 37 churchgoers have been tested positive for the virus, 52 others from the congregation have shown symptoms. 

Due to what is being called as a 'super-spreading event' by the authorities, Shincheonji Church has closed down all their services until further notice. 

Kwon Young-jin, mayor of Daegu town, where the incident took place said, that they have asked all members of the church to stay isolated and away from their family members. Residents of Daegu too, have been asked to remain indoors with local schools and public libraries being shut. 

However, what is super-spreading? World Health Organization says that it does not recognise the term as a technical one. The spread of the virus, like the new coronavirus, according to WHO depends on environmental and epidemiological factors and also depends on immune systems of individuals who are affected by the symptoms. 

Italy, in the meantime, scrambles to look for patient zero

The number of cases of coronavirus in Italy continued to rise on Sunday. Italy has been Europe's most affected country in the coronavirus outbreak. Even as the government passed a series of emergency measures to limit the spread of the virus, they haven't been able to track patient zero or the person from whom the outbreak in the country originated. 

Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala announced that all schools will be closed from Monday; universities in Lombardy and Veneto have also been shuttered until early March. Sporting events have been cancelled. The total number of confirmed cases in Italy is 200.