Maria Branyas, a 113-year-old believed to be the oldest woman in Spain, has recovered from COVID-19 after being diagnosed with the disease in March.
Branyas was said to have tested negative weeks after she suffered mild symptoms of the ailment, making her the oldest reported person in Spain, and possibly the world to survive COVID-19.
She was said to have tested positive for the disease and later got isolated at her care home in Olot, Catalonia, which has reported the deaths of several people suffering from the disease.
“Now that she is well, she is wonderful, she wants to speak, to explain, to make her reflections, it is her again,” BBC quoted the woman’s daughter to have said following her recovery.
Branyas was born in Mexico in 1907, but was said to have later moved north to San Francisco in the Catalan province of Girona during World War One with her Spanish journalist father.
She has raised three children, one of whom recently turned 86; has 11 grandchildren, the oldest of whom is said to be 60-year-old; and 13 great-grandchildren.
The case of Branyas, who has also lived through the flu pandemic of 1918 alongside the 1936-39 Spanish civil war, comes after a 106-year-old Spaniard also won the war against COVID-19.
Spain has been greatly hit by COVID-19 with nearly 27,000 deaths recorded from the disease so far as well as 269,520 confirmed cases, according to Worldometres.
Ulcers can develop in most parts of one’s body including the lining of the stomach. Though there is no complete cure, some natural remedies can help relieve the pain and various symptoms that ulcers illicit.
Stomach ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or part of the small intestine. Stomach ulcers are also known as peptic or gastric ulcers.
Causes of ulcers include:
an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria
long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and ibuprofen
Stress and spicy food can also exacerbate the symptoms of an ulcer. Although they do not cause ulcers, they can make the situation worse by increasing the amount of stomach acid produced.
1. Honey
Manuka honey has antimicrobial properties that may be useful when treating ulcers.
Honey is a popular, natural sweetener used across the United States. People who consume honey regularly can enjoy a range of health benefits.
Some use honey to speed up wound healing, including skin ulcers, burns, and wounds.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a popular plant-based oil found in many topical lotions, cosmetics, and foods.
Some studies looking at how aloe vera affected stomach ulcers produced favorable results. Studies have also shown that aloe vera treated ulcers in a similar way to a popular anti-ulcer medication.
3. Garlic
Garlic is popular in many parts of the world for adding flavor to food. Garlic has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which make it helpful in fighting infections.
Some studies do support garlic’s effectiveness in treating ulcers. For example, a 2016 study on animals showed that garlic could help prevent the development of ulcers and help speed up the healing process.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics are living organisms that help restore balance to the bacteria in the digestive tract. As well as helping achieve optimal gut health, they can help with treating ulcers.
When taken alongside other treatments, probiotics may help eradicate harmful bacteria.
People can find probiotics in the following sources:
yogurts
fermented foods
probiotic supplements
Some foods have probiotics in them. But, consider taking supplements as they have higher concentrations of probiotics per serving.
5. Ginger
Many believe that ginger has gastroprotective effects and some people use it to treat stomach and digestive conditions, such as constipation, bloating, and gastritis.
However, the majority of these positive results hail from tests on animals so it is not clear whether the effects would be similar in humans.
Couple having argument on the couch at home in the living room
It’s no secret that building and maintaining healthy, long-term relationships is not always easy. Once you’re past the early, heart-fluttering phase of your romance, you’re going encounter difficulties — every couple does — so it’s important to develop healthy strategies for dealing with conflict. And because every partnership is unique, so too is the manner in which you have disagreements, so what works for some couples might not work for others.
In fact, some habits might even appear to be toxic, but that doesn’t mean they are. I spoke to relationship experts about it, and here are the relationship habits that everyone thinks are toxic, but that are actually perfectly healthy.
Fighting in front of the kids
It’s no fun when your parents get into a fight when you’re a kid, nor is it fun to be fighting with your partner in front of the whole family. But it isn’t toxic as long as you’re respectful of one another in your disagreements; it could actually be helpful.
Melody Li, a licensed marriage and family therapist associate and relationship specialist, told me, “There are couples that that tell me they do not know how their parents resolved conflict because their parents always disagreed behind closed doors to shield their children from it. I understand the loving intention behind that but as a result, their children miss opportunities to learn healthy conflict resolution.”
So the way you argue can be a model for the kids, showing them to work out disagreements. Li continued, “By showing children that it’s normal and healthy to disagree, and by modeling negotiation, compromise, and sharing needs and feelings, the couple not only strengthens their own relationship but also sets up the future generation for relational success.” But if you resort to excessive yelling and screaming, name-calling, and threats, that’s toxic all the way.
Complaining
No one wants to be on the receiving end of a laundry list of complaints by anyone, let alone their partner, but you should make room in your relationship for both making and receiving complaints.
Heather Seguin, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told me, “Complaints are a way of letting our partners know the things that matter to us. This is different from criticism; criticism attacks your partner’s character, but complaints indicate behaviors they can change. For example, ‘I’m upset that you didn’t take out the trash like you said you would. Can you please take care of that now?'”
The important thing here, for Seguin, is that complaining allows for a grievance to be aired, and subsequently fixed. She notes that, “Complaints can be repaired, while criticism is destructive.” That means the disagreement can be resolved, reasonably.
Taking time apart
No one wants to hear the dreaded words “I need some time to myself.” It can make you anxious that your partner is thinking about splitting up, or that they’re just interested in doing things without you. But there’s nothing toxic about people needing a little room to breathe on their own.
Tina Wilson, a dating and relationship expert, told me, “Most people think that time apart can be toxic, but we’ve learned from our Assisted Romance surveys that many people say that they are better in a relationship when they spend the occasional evening all alone.”
This especially makes sense if you and your partner have divergent interests, such as you enjoying a sports event while he opts for board game night. And if you’re introverted, you might just need some time with a good book. But if your partner is talking about moving out or separating, that’s a different situation — a couple’s counselor should be called if that’s the case.
Ignoring a partner’s texts
Since the invention and proliferation of cell phones, we’re more connected than ever before, especially to our partners and families. And though it’s wonderfully convenient, it can also be a distraction from other activities.
Jonathan Bennett, a certified counselor, told me,”We live in an age with an expectation of complete availability and transparency. Consequently, it’s considered bizarre if you don’t make yourself fully available to your partner.” But it can be quite healthy to not always be instantly available. Plus, being too demanding of your partner’s time, or vice versa, can have consequences. “Constant phone access can lead to neediness and controlling behaviors,” continued Bennett. “Ignoring your partner’s texts to focus on your job, workout, driving, or just mindfully enjoying the moment is the healthy habit. Then, when you’re free and ready, you can respond.”
Additionally, being glued to your phone can make you seem less interesting. Kimberly Hershenson, a NYC based therapist, told me, “You don’t want your partner thinking you have no life outside of the relationship either. It is a positive to not always respond right away because you should have other things going on in your life.” So don’t hesitate to throw your phone in your locker.
Setting boundaries
Everyone has different emotional needs and thresholds, and they’re not always naturally compatible with the needs and thresholds of others. That’s why it’s good to set boundaries for yourself out of the gate.
Relationship therapist, educator, and author Shadeen Francis told me, “We often think about good relationships as having an element of accessibility; that person will be there for you no matter what. However, we all need to set boundaries in our lives, and that can be misinterpreted as toxic behavior.” But boundary setting is anything but toxic when it comes from an honest place.
Francis continued, “Boundaries are the invisible lines between us that keep us safe. Despite caring for others, we may have to be firm, clear, and consistent about our limits in order to maintain our mental health and emotional wellness. Saying no to people you care about is hard, but is important.” So let your partner know what your needs are, from designated time alone to time you need alone together. Barring abusive behavior, this is healthy self-care.
Being critical
If you’ve ever had a parent or partner who is excessively critical of you, you know how exhausting it feels and how toxic it can be. “In a relationship, having a ‘critical’ partner can be considered toxic, especially if feelings are hurt,” noted Bennett. And while that kind of criticism is not healthy, some criticism can actually be helpful for you and your partner.
He continued, “Honest criticism, done correctly, can actually be good for the relationship. Bad judgment from one partner can have major consequences. While it’s important to keep a calm, empathetic, and non-threatening tone, there are times when one partner’s behavior might need to be called out. A few examples are financial mismanagement, drug use, or a refusal to deal with an out of control child.” So as long as you’re not needlessly harping on your sweetie, there’s room for important critiques.
Running away from a fight
Sometimes, if you and your partner are fighting, you may find yourself overwhelmed and needing to step away. That’s actually not a bad move, especially if the fight is getting dirty.
“It’s never healthy to stay in the same place arguing and getting nowhere,” noted Hershenson. “One of you will have to be the grown up and call a time out. This means taking time apart away from the situation so you can regroup and come back together rational.”
The same is true for afterwards, when emotions are still running high. Bennett told me, “The standard advice is that you should always keep the lines of communication open after a fight. Running off to a room and slamming the door or going out with friends is considered toxic behavior. But, after a fight, your adrenaline is flowing and emotions are running high. Because of that, trying to reconcile immediately can not only be difficult, but can sometimes cause the fight to start again.” So as long as you make the effort to restart communications later, it’s perfectly acceptable to flee.
Going to bed angry
One of the more common pieces of relationship advice is that couples should never go to bed while still angry at each other. There have even been studies that show how doing so could have a negative impact on your relationship. But it’s not always the best option, especially if you don’t have the time or energy to properly resolve the conflict.
Dr. Wyatt Fisher, a licensed psychologist, told me, “While it’s ideal to work through tension before bed, it may not always be feasible. Both spouses may need time to de-flood, process through what they’re feeling, and then re-address the topic in the morning.” So even if one of you sleeps on the couch, it’s totally okay if you’re clear-headed and ready to reconcile the next morning.
Having different friends
It’s not uncommon for couples to have the same friends, and to go out together with the same group of folks. But in some cases, there are good reasons why a person might have friends that they don’t share with their partners — and there’s nothing wrong with that.
David Ezell, the clinical director of Darien Wellness, told me, “Cultivating friendships outside of the relationship — both opposite sex as well as same-sex — allows partners to be express parts of themselves that they cannot be in the relationship.” This is especially true if you don’t share the same hobbies and interests. Ezell continued, “If you love theater and your partner is a TV person, having a theater buddy allows you to feed that need (and also reinforces trust between the both of you).”
So as long as your communication is clear and open, and you’re always being honest, it doesn’t matter what friends you do or don’t share.
Communication is key
A lot of toxic habits arise either because one partner is abusive, or because communication isn’t paramount in a partnership. That’s why it’s important to evaluate your relationship habits, and speak to a therapist — or even a trusted friend — if you have any doubt about your situation. Additionally, make sure you’re putting in the work and effort that your relationship deserves, and don’t sweep things under the rug or ignore things that bother you.
Honest and direct communication can go a long way in eliminating toxic behavior patterns, as can regular check-ins with your partner when you’re both calm. A little work goes a long way in making it last!
President Muhammadu Buhari has tapped a former Under United Nations Secretary as his Chief of Staff, it was learnt on Tuesday.
Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, 75, is expected to assume office today as replacement for the late Mallam Abba Kyari, who served in the post since 2015 until April 17 when he died from Coronavirus complications.
It was learnt that the President picked Gambari, who was Minister of External (Foreign) Affairs during his time as Military Head of State between January 1984 and August 1985 because he is apolitical.
The President, according to sources had a breakfast session with the renowned diplomat yesterday where he offered him the appointment.
He was reportedly picked from a list of 14 others screened for the position, which is the clearing house in the office of the President.
Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina neither confirmed nor denied the appointment of Gambari. There was also no official communication.
Adesina said yesterday when contacted: “An announcement will be made during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting tomorrow (today).”
A virtual FEC will hold on Wednesday, the first after weeks of partial lockdown of the State House since mid-March – over the outbreak of Coronavirus.
It was learnt that the President opted for Gambari because of his patience and reputation as an international bureaucrat.
Another factor which informed the President’s position was Gambari’s unofficial advisory role since 2015 without asking for any favour.
It was gathered that the President listed his expectations when he met with Gambari.
A highly-placed source said: “The appointment was sealed at an early morning meeting between the President and Gambari.
“The meeting had barely ended when many foreign embassies got the hint and they became excited about the President’s choice.”
Some of the qualities the President outlined for his new Chief of Staff are:
competence;
rich experience in bureaucracy and diplomacy
absolute loyalty;
sharing the same vision and principle with Buhari on the Next Level Agenda;
longstanding relationship with the President;
being incorruptible;
being apolitical;
less controversial; and
a man of peace
A top source, who spoke in confidence said: “Out of the list of about 14 candidates available to the President, Gambari is the least exposed to the vagaries of Nigerian politics. He is a diplomat and an international bureaucrat.
“The appointment was made to pick an apolitical fellow and to correct the mistake of the past where the Office of the Chief of Staff is exposed to politics and pressure from politicians.
“To move forward, the President wants to restrict his Chief of Staff to bureaucratic schedule and not political manoeuvres in order to fast-track the implementation of the goals of his administration.
“The manner of jostling for the Office of the Chief of Staff since the death of the former occupant of the office actually suggested that those who have political ambitions were desperate for it.
“The international profile of Gambari played a significant role in his appointment. Buhari is looking at global politics after the post-COVID-19 pandemic and opted for an experienced hand in Gambari whose mileage can add credibility to his government and attract goodwill
“Bilateral and multilateral relations will take the centre stage after the Coronavirus pandemic and he needs a respected international bureaucrat to assist his government to reach out to the world.”
The source added: “Although some ministers are very close to the President, he avoided appointing any of them because upgrading a minister will not help the system.”
Among those considered, according to sources are: Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha; Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties, Ya’u Shehu Darazo; a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa; and the immediate past Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi
Others are Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Sarki Mukhtar Abba; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and a former Governor of Kano State, Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau.
Gambari will become the nation’s fifth Chief of Staff since 1999.
He will be the second office holder from Ilorin to occupy the Office of the Chief of Staff after Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed.
In the last 21 years, Nigeria has had four Chiefs of Staff. These are: Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed — 1999-2008; Mike Oghiadomhe — 2010-2014; Gen. Jones Arogbofa — 2014-2015; and Mallam Abba Kyari -2015 – April 17, 2020.
Although ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua scrapped the Office of Chief of Staff in 2008, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan reintroduced it in 2010.
The responsibilities of Chief of Staff are “selecting key presidential staff and supervising them, structuring the staff system, controlling the flow of people to the Presidential Villa; managing the flow of information, protecting the interests of the president, negotiating with the National Assembly and other branches of government to implement the president’s agenda; and advising the president on various issues, including telling the president what they do not want to hear.”
Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Professor Gambari.
Sulu-Gambari in a statement by his Media Aide, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona described the appointment as great honour to the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwarans at large.
He said: “The choice of the former diplomat would be justified by outstanding contributions, administrative experience, scholarship and excellence which he would inject into the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government towards ensuring good governance, democratic dividends as well as shared prosperity in the nation.
”While congratulating Professor Gambari on the new appointment, the monarch wished him a successful tenure in office even as he expressed confidence in his ability to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He will surely bring to fore his wealth of experience as an academician, former Minister, former Diplomat, former University Chancellor, Prince of the renowned Alimi dynasty, family man and community leader of high repute.
“Professor Ibrahim Gambari is the Wambai of Ilorin Emirate.”
Gunmen stormed a maternity hospital in the western part of the Afghan capital Kabul, setting off an hours-long shoot-out with the police and killing 16 people, including two newborn babies, their mothers and an unspecified number of nurses.
Photos from the Ministry of Interior Affairs showed two young children lying dead inside the hospital.
An image showed a woman who had been killed lying on the ground still holding tightly to her baby, who a nurse in the unit confirmed to Reuters news agency had survived and had been moved to an intensive care unit at another hospital.
Security forces earlier cordoned off the area as they evacuated more than 80 women and infants from the hospital, where medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) runs a maternity clinic.
Interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said three foreign nationals were among those safely evacuated, without elaborating.
It was unclear why the maternity hospital in Dashti Barchi, a 100-bed facility, was targeted – an attack Arian said was an “act against humanity and a war crime”.
At least three attackers wearing police uniforms entered the hospital, throwing grenades and shooting, officials said.
A paediatrician who fled the hospital told AFP news agency he heard a loud explosion at the entrance of the building in Dashti Barchi, a mostly Shia neighbourhood that has seen past attacks by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.
“The hospital was full of patients and doctors, there was total panic inside,” the doctor said, asking not to be named.
The unconscionable #war#crimes in #Afghanistan today, targeting a maternity hospital and a funeral, must awaken the world to the horrors civilians continue to face. There must be accountability for these grave crimes, and civilians must be protected. https://t.co/Xrjzc1uQDg
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) May 12, 2020
In the evening hours, husbands, fathers and family members of the hospital’s patients gathered around the hospital, desperate for news of their loved ones.
A man read out the names of those who had been evacuated to other hospitals.
The neighbourhood is home to many members of Afghanistan’s Hazara community, a mostly Shia Muslim minority that has been attacked by ISIL in the past, including at a Kabul ceremony commemorating the death of one of its leaders in March.
Rights group Amnesty International condemned both the attacks.
“The unconscionable war crimes in Afghanistan today, targeting a maternity hospital and a funeral, must awaken the world to the horrors civilians continue to face,” the group tweeted.
“There must be accountability for these grave crimes.”
Countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey and Pakistan released statements condemning the violence.
Justice Luma Schofield of the New York Federal High Court, US, has granted Nigerian Government’s request to access 10 bank accounts of former politicians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, and his wife Patience.
US based legal website, Law360 reports that District Judge Schofield, ordered the banks to allow the President Muhammadu Buhari government access to sundry account details of officials listed in its subpoena request.
According to the judge, the move would enable the Nigerian government prove its claim that the $9.6 billion arbitration was obtained by Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) by fraud.
In a bid to overturn a $9.6, judgement by a UK court, Nigeria government had last month asked the federal court in New York for permission to access information about transactions involving Jonathan and his wife and others.
The transaction with Process & Industrial Developments Ltd., was carried during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan
The Nigerian government is looking for any chance to prove that the 2010 gas supply arrangement was a sham and annul the giant penalty it incurred.
The matter escalated last August when a UK judge ruled that P&ID could enforce an arbitration tribunal’s 2017 ruling, now totaling $9.6 billion including interest, which found Nigeria breached the agreement.
Nigeria and Malami’s application seeking to access the bank details of the former political office holders was filed by Alexander Pencu, a partner of Meister Seelig & Fein LLP, attorneys.
The applicants said the information being sought are meant for use in “ongoing foreign criminal investigations and criminal proceedings in the Federal Republic of Nigeria (the “Nigerian Proceedings”).”
“The requested discovery will assist applicants in the Nigerian Proceedings to investigate and prosecute individuals and entities that participated in, and were enriched by, P&ID’s fraudulent scheme,” it added.
The applicants also sought the intervention of Citibank, or any of its officers to testify in the case.
Other former political office holders named in the subpoena are Taofiq Tijani; Grace Taiga; Mohammad Kuchazi; one Michael Quinn, who died in 2014; James Nolan; Adam Quinn; and Ibrahim Dikko, as well as a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
Mr Pencu listed the banks involved to include “Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) , Allied Irish Banks plc (“Allied Irish”), HSBC Bank USA (“HSBC”), Standard New York, Inc. (“Standard New York”), Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas (“Deutsche Bank”), J.P. Morgan Chase (“JPMorgan”), United Bank for Africa (“UBA”), Bank of Cyprus, Fortis Private Banking Singapore Limited (“Fortis”), and Standard Chartered International (USA) Ltd. (‘Standard Chartered”).
One of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aides, Tolu Ogunlesi, has insisted his principal did not “order” the reported COVID-19 cure from Madagascar.
Ogunlesi stated this in a tweet on Tuesday, explaining that Nigeria is simply picking up its allocation.
“Worth saying again: Nigeria did not “order” the alleged Covid-19 cure from Madagascar. We got an allocation. Many other African countries did.
“We are simply picking up our allocation. And it will be subjected to standard NAFDAC procedures. No validation no use. It’s that simple,” he tweeted.
What you quoted inside the story: “Madagascar has made allocations to various countries, & sent them to Guinea Bissau…”
The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 yesterday confirmed that Buhari approved the collection of Madagascar’s reported cure.
Also, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire had disclosed that plants used in producing Madagascar’s COVID-19 cure can be found in Nigeria.
What you quoted inside the story: “Madagascar has made allocations to various countries, & sent them to Guinea Bissau…”
Your dubious headline — “Buhari orders importation” — is a lie and a blatant misrepresentation of the story. Clickbait. This is not journalism, @MobilePunchhttps://t.co/90bEHbLlXa
The Lagos State Police Command has paraded one Nkechi Uzor 39 for using her 16 year old daughter as a prostitute. The suspect who confessed to the crime says it’s their first year in such business.
She further disclosed that to feed and to pay bills led her into it as she is only a single mother whom the husband has left since 8 years ago with two kids.The victim disclosed “My mother forced me into it, she threatened to kill me or send out of the house if I don’t comply, i have no choice than to do it because is from the money we eat from and also pay school fees on, so far i have slept with 27 men since we started and there is a medicine she always gives me after they sleep with me.Following a report and tip off, Nkechi Uzor was arrested alongside one Festus Azubuike 47 who was also there to have his own shareSpeaking on the strength of the report, the Lagos State Public Relations Officer says the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
“If you no run mad call me a bastard”, lady shares her story, swears at man who refused marrying her after 28 abortions
A Nigerian lady has threatened to inflict a certain man with madness after making her have over 28 abortions for him and refused marrying her on grounds that she’s 4 years older than him.
The lady who shared her secrete with a Twitter influencer to post on his timeline revealed she met her man right from childhood.
According to her, she turned down several suitors who asked her hand marriage thinking her man of many years, Kunle was going to marry her.
On an occasion she attempted walking out of the relationship, she revealed Kunle bought a ring worth N500 and got her engaged which she has been wearing for 3 years now.
She said Kunle avoided marriage talks saying he’s not yet buoyant enough to take care of her and kids, a major reason she kept aborting series of pregnancies until she lost count on the 28th.
When Kunle finally agreed to settle down, she said they both fixed a date for her introduction, which he failed to show up with his people on the said day, after they had already made necessary preparations and invited people to grace the occasion.
Writing further, she noted that Kunle’s contacts were switched off and when he finally became reachable, he complained that his parents are against him marrying an older lady, something the lady said he had told her years back it was never going to be a problem.
Enraged by Kunle’s position and his parents’ decision, the lady is now hellbent on seeking vengeance and has sworn to make sure he runs mad.
Read her story below;
Meanwhile, Nigerians have taken to the micro-blogging platform to share their opinions. While many, especially ladies supported her decision to make him mad, only few are of contrary opinions.
A South Korean super-spreader has been linked to dozens of new cases from one night out, amid panic after the Asian nation reopened.
The total number of cases linked to three nightclubs in Itaewon in Seoul, visited by a 29-year-old patient who had tested positive for coronavirus, increased to 54 as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Authorities are estimating between 6,000 to 7,000 could have been exposed to the virus from clubs between April 29 and May 6, according to Bloomberg.
South Korea’s capital has shut down more than 2,100 nightclubs, hostess bars and discos after infections were linked to club goers who went out last weekend as the country relaxed social distancing guidelines.
The measures imposed yesterday by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon came after the national government urged entertainment venues around the nation to close or otherwise enforce anti-virus measures, including distancing, temperature checks, keeping customer lists and requiring employees to wear masks.
Park said the entry bans on the facilities will be maintained until the city concludes that risks of infection have been meaningfully lowered.
Eleven of the 54 confirmed cases are secondary infections. The infection rate is highest for those who visited King Club in Itaewon on May 2, and more than 30 per cent of the confirmed patients are asymptomatic.
The number of infections could grow as health workers are scrambling to trace contacts of club goers.
Park said health workers have been attempting to contact some 1,940 people who were listed as visitors to the three Itaewon clubs and other venues nearby, but they have so far been able to reach only 637 of them.
South Korea has confirmed at least 10,874 cases of the coronavirus, including 256 deaths.
Fewer cases in previous weeks had allowed for social distancing guidelines to be relaxed and a phased reopening of schools.
