South Korean President urges calm amid concerns over further increase in coronavirus

The South Korean president is urging citizens not to let their guard down, but said there is no reason to panic amid fears of a further increase in the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

President Moon Jae-in made the comments in a speech on Sunday when his health authorities detected a series of new cases linked to nightclubs in Seoul’s Itaewon district in recent days.

Authorities said Friday that they detected at least 15 infections related to a 29-year-old man who had visited three Itaewon clubs before testing positive on Wednesday.

Global coronavirus cases and deaths (PA charts)

Previously, the number of cases in South Korea had declined for weeks, prompting authorities to relax its rules of social distancing.

“The group of infection that recently occurred in entertainment facilities has raised awareness that, even during the stabilization phase, similar situations can arise again anytime, anywhere in a crowded, enclosed space,” said the President Moon Jae-in.

He added: “We should never let our guard down regarding epidemic prevention.” But he also said “there is no reason to stay still out of fear.”

Moon said South Korea has “the proper medical and quarantine systems combined with experience to respond quickly to any group of unexpected infections that may occur.”

Figures released Sunday by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention increased national totals to 10,874 with 256 deaths.

The agency said 9,610 people have recovered and another 10,128 are undergoing tests to determine if they have contracted the virus.