South Korea returns largely on track as outbreak controlled
06 May, 2020
South Korea returned largely on track Wednesday as workers returned to offices, and museums and libraries reopened under eased social distancing rules after new coronavirus cases dropped to a trickle.
The South endured among the worst early outbreaks of the condition outside China even though it never imposed a compulsory lockdown, strict social distancing have been widely observed since March.
Employees were urged to home based where possible as the new school term was postponed from its March start.
Scores of events -- from K-pop concerts to sports seasons -- were delayed or cancelled, while museums and galleries were closed and religious services suspended.
But the South seems to have brought its outbreak in order thanks to an extensive "trace, ensure that you treat" program which has drawn widespread praise.
In a population of 51 million, its death toll is little more than 250, and new cases have slowed to only a handful -- 13 in the past three days, every one of them arriving international passengers. A lot more than 90 of the South's imported cases are returning citizens.
At least 100 persons visited the National Museum of Korea in Seoul on Wednesday morning, and the first visitors of your day -- a married couple -- received a bouquet of flowers by staff.
"Many of our colleagues also returned to work today, so we are incredibly worked up about the reopening, we are very happy," museum spokeswoman Lee Hyun-ju told AFP.
Some personnel were bittersweet about going back to the office.
"I wanted to go back home as soon as I sat down at my desk at work today. But there is also this weird sense of stability," wrote one Twitter poster.
Another tweeted: "I feel like my holidays are actually over."
The South reported two new infections on Wednesday, taking the total to 10,806, the Korea Centers for Disease Control said.
Some professional sports, including baseball and soccer, are starting their new seasons this week after being postponed over virus fears, although the matches will be played nowadays.
Schools are to reopen in stages beginning with May 13.
Under what Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun known as "everyday life quarantine", South Koreans remain encouraged to wear face masks and wash their hands frequently, among other recommendations.
Source: japantoday.com
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