Korean mass wedding goes ahead despite coronavirus fears as thousands of blushing brides don face-masks for big day

A SIX-thousand strong mass wedding went ahead in South Korea despite 24 confirmed cases of deadly coronavirus in the region. Scores of newly matched couples tied the knot in the Unification Church ceremony, with one follower saying she was nonplussed by the virus as the wedding was “under God’s control”. Korean health bosses have ordered […]

A SIX-thousand strong mass wedding went ahead in South Korea despite 24 confirmed cases of deadly coronavirus in the region.

Scores of newly matched couples tied the knot in the Unification Church ceremony, with one follower saying she was nonplussed by the virus as the wedding was “under God’s control”.

AFP or licensors

The mass wedding went ahead despite health bosses’ warnings[/caption]

Reuters

Thousands of couples tied the knot despite warnings[/caption]

Korean health bosses have ordered the shut down of big events like concerts and graduation ceremonies amid fears of spreading the virus.

Despite urging religious groups to comply, Unification Church went ahead with the ceremony as it was “four years in the making”.

The mass nuptials took place as part of a celebration of the 100th anniversary of church founder Sun Myung Moon’s birth.

Followers have been dubbed “moonies” after the founder’s name.

One 21-year-old who met her beau just two months ago when the church matched them up said of the ceremony: “It would be a lie if I said I was not concerned at all about the infection.

“But I feel like I will be protected from the virus today.”

She added: “I am overwhelmed that I am getting married today.”

Coronavirus has swept the globe with 31,000 cases in China alone and five Brits confirmed to be struck down today in France.

And it was also confirmed a British family of four have been isolated inside a hospital on Majorca after the dad came into contact with a coronavirus sufferer.

Medics on the holiday island revealed the father has now been quarantined at the capital’s main hospital Son Espases.

The global death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has now reached 724 –  priming it to become more deadly than SARS.

Coronavirus has now been confirmed in 28 countries, and took the lives of 86 people on Friday alone.

Rex Features

Couples donned facemasks for their big day[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Couples tied the knot en-mass at the ceremony[/caption]

Reuters

Brides and grooms were matched up weeks before the ceremony[/caption]

Reuters

Not all the happy couples decided to wear the masks[/caption]

Reuters

There have been 24 cases of coronavirus in the country[/caption]

Rex Features

Smartly dressed couples completed their outfits with protective facemasks[/caption]