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By APD writer Alice
The United States on February 22 raised the travel advisory for Japan and South Korea as the acute respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading strongly in two nations as well as many other countries in the world.On its website,the US State Department called on citizens to “exercise increased caution” when travelling to Japan after it raised its travel advisory for the country to Level 2 on its four-notch scale because of what it termed "sustained community spread."Earlier, the US applied a Level 1 travel advisory that called on citizens to “exercise normal precautions " in Japan. By 5pm on February 23, the number of confirmed domestic cases in Japan grew to 135, along with 634 cases from the Diamond Princess, the biggest concentration of infections outside mainland China.
The United States also applied its Level-2 travel advisory for South Korea, in the context of the rapid spread of the new coronavirus in the country.
The measure came after South Korea had reported 433 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, including two deaths on February 22.By 5pm on February 23, South Korea became the third largest concentration of COVID-10 infections outside mainland China, recording 602 cases with five dealth.
"Sustained community spread means that people in South Korea have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing," the US State Department said.
It added that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions, in particular, should consider postponing travel to South Korea as they may be at higher risk for severe disease.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued a Level 2 health notice for South Korea, calling for "enhanced precautions" when traveling to the country.
Meanwhile, Samsung Eletronics Co. sad it has temporarily shut down operations at a plant in Gumi city, South Korea, after an employee was confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.The suspension will last until February 24 morning to prevent the virus from spreading, the company said in an emailed statement. Samsung has two production lines in Gumi, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) southeast of Seoul, for some of its smartphones.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)