S Korea to launch mass coronavirus testing, US pledges R15bn for vaccine

South Korea aims to test more than 200,000 members of a church at the centre of a surge in coronavirus cases, while the US pledged $2.5bn (R37.7bn) to fight the disease, as it spreads rapidly beyond China’s borders to Europe and the Middle East.

Countries around the world are stepping up efforts to prevent a pandemic of the flu-like virus that has now infected more than 80,000 people, 10 times more cases than the Sars virus.

Japan’s government urged people to telecommute or work staggered hours to stop the spread of the virus, and Hong Kong media reported that schools in the Asian financial hub would remain closed for another month.

The White House said more than $1bn (R15bn) would go towards developing a vaccine, with other funds earmarked for therapeutics and the stockpiling of personal protective equipment such as masks.

The US and South Korean militaries said on Monday they may cut back joint training due to mounting concerns about the spreading coronavirus, after 13 South Korean troops tested positive for the virus.

South Korea has the most virus cases in Asia outside China and reported its ninth death and 60 new cases on Tuesday, out of 893 cases.

About 60% of South Korea’s cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The leader of the church said it had agreed to provide authorities with the names of its members in South Korea, estimated at about 215,000 people.

In Japan, which has reported four deaths and 850 cases mostly on a cruise ship docked near Tokyo, health minister Katsunobu Kato said it was too early to talk about cancelling the Tokyo Summer Olympics due to start on July 24.

The overall death toll in mainland China reached 2,663 as of the end of Monday, up by 71 from the previous day. —

It was too early to talk about cancelling the Tokyo Summer Olympics due to start on July 24