Very worrying developments.
South Korea is now on its “highest level” of alert after 600 coronavirus cases have been confirmed within the country. Five people have died of the virus so far.
According to the BBC, South Korea President Moon Jae-in said that the country had reached “a grave turning point” in its attempts to contain the disease.
Also badly affected is the Lombardy region of Italy, which has seen over 100 confirmed cases, as well as two deaths. Concern relating to the virus has caused football matches to be cancelled near the major cities of Milan and Venice.
The latest update from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs warns that: “The South Korean city of Daegu has been designated a special management zone to prevent further risk of exposure and anyone resident in Daegu should pay particular attention to local guidance and monitor local media for updates.”
In general, Irish people are warned to observe the following precautions while travelling:
- avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections;
- frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment;
- avoiding close contact with live or dead farm or wild animals;
- travellers with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).
The virus has already killed thousands of people in China, where it is believed to have originated.
"If people cough into their hands, they can pass it on by direct contact or if they touch door knobs…"@CillianDeGascun explains everything we need to know about the Coronavirus and its effect in Ireland.
And everything else we wanted to know too.. pic.twitter.com/pySgt3tOnk
— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) February 21, 2020
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