Seoul Metropolitan Government Provides Emergency Aid to Schools Over MERS Spread

The South Korean capital has provided emergency financial aid to elementary schools and kindergartens to help contain the spread of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) that has claimed 16 lives till now.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Sunday approved 1.9 billion won ($1.7 million) in aid for schools at the request of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education amid growing concerns over the rapid spread of the virus, Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) - Causes Symptoms Treatment Prevention
MERS, a newly discovered respiratory disease, was recently reported in the Arabian region. MERS is caused by a virus similar to that causing common cold and other respiratory illnesses.

The city government approved 400 million won in funding to sterilize the buildings of 2,230 elementary schools and kindergartens, and 1.5 billion won to purchase thermometers for students.

"The safety of students is the most important priority," said Lee Dong-soo, a senior official in charge of the emergency aid, adding that the city government will continue to make efforts in sanitation.

Meanwhile, over 100 elementary schools and kindergartens in two southern Seoul districts resumed classes on Monday after a week-long school shutdown.

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The order had affected 69 kindergartens and 57 elementary schools in the Gangnam and Seocho districts, where a MERS-infected doctor was found to have spent about four days out in public before being quarantined.

The health ministry on Monday confirmed five new cases, raising the total number of positive cases to 150.

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Three of the new cases were infected in Samsung Medical Centre in Seoul, one of the country's largest hospitals where over 70 people have contracted the virus.

Source-IANS

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