May 20, 2015 a coronavirus epidemicbroke out in South Korea, when a man returning from Saudi Arabia was diagnosed with the virus. Since then, 36 people have died and 186 have been infected with the virus. The death rate was 17%.
After being questioned by the World Health Organization, for a late reaction and failures in the early stages of the epidemic, South Korea has managed to stop the progression of the coronavirus. “After assessing the situation, the medical staff and the government believe that the people no longer need to worry,” Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn said during a meeting with members of the government. .
Tourism affected by the epidemic
The flow of tourists fell by 41% in June. “The number of Chinese visitors has thus collapsed by 45%, that of visitors from Taiwan and Hong Kong by 76% and 75% respectively,” according to the Korea Tourism Organization. To convince tourists once again to visit South Korea, and to assure them that it is safe, Deputy Tourism Minister Kim Chong last week announced an aid package worth more than 30 billion won (23 millions of euros).
This new coronavirus called CoV was identified in September 2012. It is quite close to the 2003 human SARS coronavirus which killed 800 people. Coronavirus infection manifests with fever and respiratory signs which may be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. The incubation period is currently estimated at 10 days. There is no vaccine to treat this disease which has a mortality rate of 35% according to the World Health Organization.
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