LIVE FROM HONG KONG: Coronavirus Expands as South Korea Now Calls For Highest State of Alert with Over 600 Confirmed Cases

Live from Hong Kong

As the coronavirus continues to spread internationally, countries like South Korea are now calling for their highest state of alert in combating the virus.

The Wuhan coronavirus continues to expand globally.  South Korea has more than 600 cases and Italy surpassed Hong Kong in the number of cases.  Overall there are now nearly 80,000 individuals infected and over 2,400 deaths related to the virus.

CNBC reported that South Korea, after reaching more than 600 infected with the virus, now declares the country’s highest possible alert:

South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared the country of 51 million on its highest possible alert Sunday as confirmed coronavirus cases leap to more than 600 in just a few days.

The alert − Level 4, or “serious” − allows the government to lock down cities and take other powerful measures to contain the disease’s outbreak, which has so far caused 5 deaths in the country.

“The coming few days will be a critical time for us,” Mr. Moon said at an emergency meeting on Sunday. “This will be a momentous time when the central government, local governments, health officials and medical personnel and the entire people must wage an all-out, concerted response to the problem.”

In Hong Kong schools remain closed through March 15th and civil servants are asked to work from home through the end of the month of February. 

Masks are in short supply throughout Asia and are bought up as soon as they arrive.

The virus is also spreading across Europe today.

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