Law requires South Koreans to wear masks as robot can track users and abusers
South Korea has reported 19 new coronavirus cases on the eve of the return to school for more than two million children.
The majority of the new cases were in the Seoul metropolitan area where officials have been actively tracing transmissions linked to nightclubs and other entertainment venues. South Korea’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also reported two more deaths, bringing the country’s total to 269 fatalities from 11,225 cases.
Today will see around 2.4 million pupils return to school. Health minister Park Neung-hoo urged school officials to double check their preventive measures.
A new law has come into force in South Korea requiring people to wear masks on public transport and while using taxis.
However, people in South Korea, like in much of Asia, have generally worn masks in public settings and no major disruptions were reported.
SK Telecom has developed a new autonomous robot to handle disinfection and monitoring duties as part of efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus in South Korea. The robot will also monitor the temperatures of people around it and check whether they are wearing face masks.
Health authorities have left mask enforcement to bus drivers and subway station workers, while taxi drivers are allowed to refuse picking up passengers if they are not wearing masks.
Nearby China has reported seven new cases of Covid-19, all linked to people returning from abroad.
Authorities said 81 patients were in hospital with coronavirus and a further 408 in isolation are being monitored for being either suspected cases or having tested positive for the virus without showing any symptoms. Students have gradually returned to class and some international schools in Beijing are preparing to reopen on 1 June. China’s ceremonial parliament is meeting this week, with social distancing being used.