The Number of MERS Victims in South Korea Reaches 11

South Korea, where the most extensive case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outside of Saudi Arabia has emerged, announced that the number of victims of the disease reached 11 on Friday, June 21. The latest victim of the MERS coronavirus is a 72-year-old woman who contracted the disease through contact with another infected individual in a hospital. Meanwhile, South Korean government officials, who have faced severe criticism from domestic media for their initial handling of this deadly disease, have urged the public to continue their daily routines. Initial investigations suggest that the likelihood of contracting MERS is lower than that of the SARS virus, which left hundreds of victims in East Asia a decade ago. However, estimates indicate that this emerging coronavirus is significantly more lethal. Currently, over 3,600 people are in quarantine in South Korea, a number that has decreased compared to the previous Thursday. The country's Ministry of Health also stated that the number of infected individuals has 'significantly' decreased. According to a statement issued by the ministry, the likelihood of the disease spreading outside of hospitals where patients or monitored citizens are kept is low. Nevertheless, social media and critical media outlets have continued to criticize President Park's government for its handling of the outbreak in recent days. The outbreak of this emerging coronavirus has also led the Bank of Korea to lower interest rates to help stabilize the market, bringing it down to 1.5%, the lowest recorded rate in the country.