COVID-19 latest: 150 more deaths in China, while South Korea reports jump in cases

South Korea reported another large jump in new virus cases Monday, a day after the the president called for “unprecedented, powerful” steps to combat the outbreak that is increasingly confounding attempts to stop the spread/

The 161 new cases bring South Korea's total to 763 cases, and two more deaths raise its toll to seven.

China also reported 409 new cases on Monday, raising the mainland's total to 77,150 after a zigzag pattern of increases in recent days. The 150 new deaths from the COVID-19 illness raised China's total to 2,592. All but one death were in Hubei province, where the outbreak emerged in December.

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Significant jumps in cases outside China have raised concern of the outbreak getting out of control. South Korea has the third-highest national total behind China and Japan, and cases have rapidly increased in Italy and Iran in just a few days.

More than 140 of South Korea's new cases were in and near Daegu, the city of 2.5 million people where most of the country's infections have occurred. Six of the seven deaths were linked to a hospital in Cheongdo, near Daegu, where a slew of infections were confirmed among patients in a mental ward.

The stark increase in cases was partly linked to a religious organisation primarily in Daegu, South Korea's fourth-largest city, the KCDC said.

The controversial Shincheonji church closed its 74 churches and affiliated institutions for quarantine. It expressed "deep regret" that many patients contracted the virus in its community.

The situation has also opened up the church to more criticism for its controversial beliefs.

"Shincheonji followers believe Lee Man-hee [the founder] is immortal and has an eternal life,'' said Ji-il Tark at Busan Presbyterian University in South Korea. He added that they often sit close together in services and must attend services.

The church said they were cooperating with the quarantine and denounced other Christian groups' claims as false.

Cases at the nearby Cheongdo Daenam hospital in South Korea also skyrocketed.

The KCDC warned anyone "who has attended a service at Shincheonji Church or visited Cheongdo Daenam hospital in February" to "stay home and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities".

Israelis and Palestinians are asked to quarantine themselves

Meanwhile, a diplomatic row erupted after Israel turned back a South Korean airliner, underscoring fear and tensions over the outbreak.

A Korean Air flight with 188 passengers that landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport Saturday evening was taxied away from the terminal while authorities allowed only 11 Israelis to enter the country. The plane returned to South Korea with the rest of the passengers on Sunday.

Prior to this on Saturday Israeli and Palestinian health authorities had asked people who had been in close contact with a group of South Korean tourists to quarantine themselves.

The request came after South Korea informed Israel that nine members of the group who toured Israel and the West Bank for a week this month tested positive for the new virus.

The tourists were diagnosed upon returning home.

Israel's Health Ministry said it's investigating whether the Korean tourists had transmitted the virus while in the country.

The ministry published a list of places the tourists visited, including churches in Jerusalem and other cities, and instructed people who came into close contact with the group to notify the ministry and quarantine themselves for 14 days.

A similar warning was issued by the Palestinian health ministry.

On Friday, Israel said a passenger who was quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan was diagnosed with the virus after he was flown home with a group of 11 Israelis, making it the first case to be reported inside Israel. The others are in quarantine.

Three other Israelis are being treated in Japan after contracting the virus on the cruise ship.

There have been no cases recorded in the Palestinian territories/

Iran reports eight deaths from the virus

In Iran, eight people have been now been confirmed to have died from the virus, the highest number outside of China.

Some of the clusters of new cases in recent days have no link to China, a worrying sign of the virus spread.

The Iranian health ministry said there were now 43 confirmed cases in Iran, which did not report its first case of the virus until Wednesday.

People are being treated for the virus in at least four different cities, including the capital, Tehran, where some pharmacies had already run out of masks and hand sanitiser. Other cities are Qom, Arak and Rasht.

The virus loomed over a nationwide parliamentary election in Iran on Friday. Many voters went to the polls wearing face masks.

Italy takes drastic measures

In Italy's northern Lombardy region, which includes the nation's financial capital, Milan, the governor announced Sunday that the number of confirmed cases stood at 110. Italy now has 152 cases, the largest number outside of Asia, including three deaths.

Venice, which is full of tourists for Carnival events, reported its first two cases, said Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia, whose region includes the lagoon city. It wasn't immediately known if the two infected had participated in Carnival festivities.

As Italy scrambled to check the spread of the virus, authorities announced that all Carnival events had been called off as well as major league soccer matches in the stricken region. Cinemas and theaters were also ordered shuttered, including Milan's legendary La Scala.

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