South Korea reports three more deaths from coronavirus

South Korea Monday reported three new deaths from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS, virus bringing the total number of deaths up to 19.

Four new cases were also reported, representing a total of 154 infections since the disease was detected in the country.

According to the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, the three who died had contracted the virus at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, the hospital with the most number of infections.

The health center, owned by the Samsung Group, has decided to virtually suspend all operations until June 24.

The South Korean government believes it has limited the spread of the virus to health centres (there are 55 affected throughout the country) and hopes to control the outbreak by the end of the month.

Among the 154 confirmed cases of infection, 17 have recovered since the first detection of the coronavirus on May 20, said the Ministry.

There are currently around 5,580 people quarantined in the country.

The virus, which has an incubation period of 14 days, created much social panic in South Korea as it has no effective treatment or vaccine.

South Korea is the second country after Saudi Arabia to record the most number of MERS infections.

The disease was first detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012.