This South Korean city once had the biggest coronavirus outbreak outside of China. Now it’s reported zero new cases

Apr 10, 2020

A medical worker in a protective gear thumbs up to media as he walks into a hospital facility to treat coronavirus patients amid the rise in confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Daegu, South Korea, March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon - RC2KFF968JAE

South Korea's efficient response to the virus is credited with its success in containing it. Image: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Josh Smith

Journalist, Reuters

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COVID-19

Daegu, in South Korea, was host to the first large coronavirus outbreak outside of China.
The city has reported a total of 6,807 cases since the outbreak started there in late February.
On 10th April, it reported zero new cases.
Widespread testing and social distancing measures are accredited to its success in curtailing the spread of the virus.

The South Korean city of Daegu, which endured the first large coronavirus outbreak outside of China, on the 10th April reported zero new cases for the first time since late February, as new infections across the country dropped to record lows.

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With at least 6,807 confirmed cases, Daegu accounts for more than half of all South Korea’s 10,450 infections.

South Korea on 10th April reported 27 new cases as of the night before, a new low since daily cases peaked at more than 900 in late February, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

The death toll also rose by four to 208, the KCDC said.

Daily confirmed cases of coronavirus, by number of days since 30 daily cases first recorded.

South Korea as a whole is seeing fewer new cases each day. Image: Financial Times

The spread of infections at a church in Daegu drove a massive spike in cases in South Korea beginning in late February.

Passengers having distance to each other, following an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), sit on benches at a lobby of a railway station in Daegu, South Korea March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon - RC2WIF91MVNS

Social distancing measures were used early on to try and stop the spread of COVID-19. Image: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

The outbreak initially pushed the tally of confirmed cases much higher than anywhere else outside of China, before the country used widespread testing and social distancing measures to bring the numbers down.

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