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Coronavirus surge continues in South Korea as tally tops 2,000

Feb 28 , 2020. 5 hours ago – 12:05 – KYODO NEWS

(A medical professional is seen at a preliminary testing facility at the National Medical Center where patients suspected of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) are assessed on February 24, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea)[Getty/Kyodo]

SEOUL –

South Korea continued to grapple with a surge in coronavirus infections on Friday as it reported 256 new cases, taking the total to 2,022.

Of the new cases, 182 were in the southeastern city of Daegu, home to a branch of a Christian sect that has become the epicenter of the outbreak in the nation. The surrounding province of North Gyeongsang accounted for 49 new cases.

The death toll from the outbreak stood at 13, unchanged from the previous day.

Roughly two-thirds of the total virus cases in South Korea have focused on Daegu, the nation’s fourth-largest city. With hundreds of cases added each day, the prime minister has headed to the area to lead containment efforts.

With 505 more cases reported Thursday, the number of daily new cases has for the first time exceeded that of China, whose mainland figure stood at 433 the same day, according to South Korean media.

The government says it is still in the process of testing nearly 25,000 people for the virus, likely taking the total higher as further cases are confirmed.

To expedite the testing process while maximizing the number of people to be tested, some municipalities have introduced “drive-thru” tests whereby people can get their samples taken through car windows.

South Korea is able to test over 10,000 people for the virus each day.

CR: KYODO NEWS