The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea doubled in 24 hours, rising to 104 from 51, as per the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several of the new cases have been linked to a Christian sect in Daegu, a city in southern South Korea.

A woman who was the 31st confirmed patient in the country on February 18 had attended services held by a religious group called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The woman, 61, had visited Wuhan, China. She has been reported to have 1,160 contacts.

The woman had also visited Cheongdo Daenam Hospital, which has emerged as a second cluster of infections. South Korea reported its first coronavirus-related death and the patient, a 63-year-old man, was from the Cheongdo Daenam Hospital cluster.

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA