South Korea has reported the highest daily number of new coronavirus cases in 49 days, as one of the country’s largest e-commerce companies battled an outbreak linked to a now-shuttered logistics facility.

The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 40 new cases as of midnight Tuesday, bringing the country’s total number to 11,265. A day earlier the country recorded 19 new cases.

So far, at least 36 cases have been linked to an outbreak at the logistics centre operated by SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm Coupang Corp in Bucheon, west of Seoul, the KCDC said. It was not immediately clear how many of the cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

File picture of a delivery man for Coupang wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus, loading packages before leaving to deliver them in Incheon, South Korea. — Reuters
File picture of a delivery man for Coupang wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus, loading packages before leaving to deliver them in Incheon, South Korea. — Reuters

According to a Reuters report, about 3,600 people at the facility are being tested. The company said it closed the centre on Monday and began the strongest disinfection measures recommended by authorities.

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