Unlike Wuhan, where most residents do not leave their homes, many restaurants and bars in Daegu remain open even though this is the center of Covid-19 in Korea.

Daegu, the fourth largest city in Korea with 2.4 million people, is now exceptionally quiet when an "invisible enemy" is lurking around. At the main railway station, officials monitored the temperature of every passenger with a thermal camera. Antiseptic is sprayed in every corner. The government also called on people to avoid the road.

Despite the rapid spread of nCoV, Daegu stores are still trying to attract customers. A noodle restaurant placed in front of the signboard: "Please come in! We thoroughly disinfect the facility twice a day." In a nearby coffee shop, 4 employees wearing masks cheerfully greeted when a guest entered. This place is often crowded with young people, but now there is no visitor.

"Everyone is scared and doesn't want to take risks," said taxi driver Park Seon-gyu while looking out on the deserted street. The number of vehicles on the road decreased significantly after the first confirmed case of nCoV in the city last week. "However, life is still drifting. I have to go to the street to make a living."

South Korea does not strictly control the movement of people in places affected by the Covid-19 epidemic like Daegu, nor prohibits visitors from China. That is in stark contrast to Wuhan, where the disease began, when millions of people obeyed the government's blockade.

This approach reflects the political differences and challenges posed to South Korea, where people regularly protest and the latest former president was also ousted after the wrath of the public. MPs in the ruling party face fierce opposition from conservative local politicians when referring to the possibility of blockade of Daegu and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, the number of nCoV infections in South Korea is constantly increasing. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) today announced that it had recorded nearly 1,300 cases, the second highest in the world after mainland China, and 12 deaths. 80% of infected people come from two epidemic clusters that are branches of the New Heavenly Sect in Daegu and Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo District, North Gyeongsang Province.

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said his goal was to test all people with symptoms next month, to open temporary monitoring stations across the city, to mobilize local health workers. different and ensure enough beds in the surrounding towns.

All public libraries, museums, churches, nursing centers and courts in Daegu are closed. The government also requires schools, from preschool to university, to postpone the second semester scheduled to begin in March, and also recommend not to serve food at weddings or funerals.

However, South Korean Deputy Minister of Health Kim Gang-lip said the government "had no intention of blocking the region like China did with Wuhan". Seomun, Daegu's largest market, is operating again on February 24 after a day of disinfection. Most of the stalls were still closed, but some people had lined up to sell.

Shippers who continued to drive motorbikes all over Daegu to deliver food to households now eat mostly at home. Restaurants and cafes are also quick to switch to door-to-door service to sustain their business. Even in the residential area behind the Tan Thien Dia church, the epidemic center, employees of an internet service company went to each house to post a poster on the door.

Daegu residents also tried to regain their normal pace of life, like Kim Hee-sook, who did not leave the house for 5 days due to fear of the virus that she "could not see, smell or touch". On February 24, the 78-year-old woman decided to venture outside to "see the sun".

"I'm sick of being at home all day watching TV. Due to lack of exercise, I lose my appetite, start to have indigestion and insomnia. If I continue to stay indoors, I think I will die because of it. insomnia instead of viruses, "said Kim.

Despite efforts to struggle from the "freeze" situation, the people of Daegu still seem unable to dispel concerns about the Covid-19 epidemic. Park Hae-il, a college student, said people were "wiping out" instant noodles in the supermarket to stock up, as well as waiting in line to buy masks. With friends who went back to their hometown before the outbreak, Park advised them not to return to Daegu now.

The number of passengers on the subway cars is only about half that of normal. Everyone is wearing a mask and sitting away from each other, while the loudspeaker system calls people to contact the hotline about nCoV if they feel unwell.

As night falls, the city becomes quieter and darker. Shops closed earlier than usual. "The virus enters the human body silently, making us feel bewildered," said Ryu Ho-sang, a retired person. He blames President Moon Jae-in for not blocking Daegu early to prevent the spread of nCoV.

However, without such drastic measures, Daegu has also become the "stepchild" of the country. Large hospitals in Seoul refused to accept outpatients from Daegu. Domestic airlines and bus companies cut trips to the city, citing reduced demand.

"My cousin in Seoul said that I didn't need to go to her son's wedding. Despite being very polite, I understood that she didn't want to take any virus from Daegu to Seoul," she said. Park Park smiled wryly.

Many Daegu residents vented their anger on Tan Thien Dia, a cult of "Patient 31", who is said to have "sprayed the virus" throughout the area. Over the past few days, the government has struggled to find hundreds of lost followers, and announced testing of all sectarian members, some 215,000.

"I don't care if they are sectarian. What makes me angry is that many members have been hiding instead of cooperating with the government to prevent the virus from spreading," said Park Ji-hyok, a 25-year-old college student. , for or.

Even before the outbreak, the Tan Thien Dia sect made the people around it feel uncomfortable. Some places have placed warning signs of sectarian members not to use their own parking space when attending large gatherings.

"They are very noisy when singing and praying," said Cho Sook-ja, who lives in the apartment behind the church. "Since the outbreak of the disease, I lost most of my private life, when I couldn't go to the market, use a public bath or a hair salon. My boss also asked me not to go to the company until the 8th. / 3 ".

Cafes, restaurants, even banks near the Tan Thien Dia church in Daegu are closed, while a post office and a pet store are still open. On the wall in front of the 10-storey building where the church is located, the inscription on the large banner calls Tan Thien Dia a "a beautiful church, where it continues to spread love and truth".