COVID-19 Shuts South Korean Parliament

C: Skyler W. - Unsplash

The South Korean parliament building was effectively closed down Thursday morning with a number of the nation’s politicians secluded away in self-quarantine as over 440 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country.

South Korea’s 441 total new cases on Thursday occurred primarily in and around the capital Seoul as figures continue to rise in what is being seen as a second wave of virus cases.

In recent weeks South Korea, after being one of the worst affected nations in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, had dipped to just 30-40 cases a day according to reports.

Over 18,700 South Koreans have now contracted the virus.

COVID-19 test

The closure of Seoul’s National Assembly building was attributed to a working journalist who attended a government meeting a day earlier having been confirmed positive with the virus – the probable cause of infection coming from one of the individual’s own relatives who had also tested positive

Following protocol in place, the politicians present have since been tested and have gone into self-isolation.

The assembly building and administrative annex were subsequently closed down with officials from all parties temporarily suspending activities it is understood.

COVID-19

A similar shutdown earlier in the year also saw the nation’s political heart placed in temporary lockdown. That case followed the case of a single person attending an event at the facility also testing positive for the virus.

Lisa Conklin

Lisa is an Eastender from London in her second year in Taipei where she teaches English, and in her spare time writes poetry. She is a practicing vegan and lover of yoga who lives 'off-grid' as much as possible. She is our weekend editor.