Coronavirus: two flats linked to Shincheonji members quarantined, as cases in South Korea cross 7,000

Dozens of people in the two buildings in Daegu, where many members of the Christian sect reside, tested positive

The property is owned by the city government and only single women aged 35 or under can apply to live there

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An aerial view of a residential building where 46 residents tested positive for coronavirus in Daegu. Photo: Yonhap/AFP

Published: 11:29am, 7 Mar 2020Updated: 6:15pm, 7 Mar 2020

Two buildings in South Korea that were heavily occupied by members of a Christian sect linked to most of the country’s coronavirus cases have been quarantined after dozens of residents tested positive for the disease, an official said on Saturday.

The move comes as the country, which has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the world outside China, reported 274 new infections on Saturday afternoon, taking its total to 7,041.

Another two deaths were reported by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention earlier on Saturday, bringing the toll to 44.

The apartment complex in the southeastern city of Daegu – the epicentre of its outbreak – was placed under lockdown after 46 residents were confirmed to have the virus, mayor Kwon Young-jin said.

More than 140 people live in the two buildings, including 94 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often accused of being a cult and is linked to most of South Korea’s infections.

It is the first residential community to be isolated over the outbreak, Kwon said.

A health worker seen at a residential building where 46 people tested positive for the coronavirus. Photo: Reuters

The property is owned by the city government and only single women aged 35 or under can apply to live there.