South Korea is tracking the phones of people suspected of having MERS.

On June 7, the South Korean government vowed to make "maximum efforts" to prevent the spread of MERS. Authorities announced several new measures to combat the outbreak.

A female tourist from South Korea has her temperature checked at Hong Kong airport. Photo: Reuters

According to AFP, Prime Minister Choi Kyung-Hwan urged people not to panic, as all 64 MERS patients have now been isolated in hospitals.

"The public should cooperate closely with the government to mitigate the impact of MERS on the economy," Choi emphasized.

Prime Minister Choi said authorities would strengthen close monitoring of those quarantined due to contact with MERS patients, including tracking their location via mobile phones. "Please understand that this is a necessary measure to ensure everyone's safety," Choi explained.

Following a wave of intense public criticism, the South Korean government was forced to release a list of 24 hospitals where MERS patients were being treated. The majority are located in the capital Seoul and the neighboring Gyeongi province.

Prime Minister Choi also pledged that the government would increase financial support for hospitals, those in quarantine, and local governments. Currently, most people in quarantine are staying at home and not having contact with others.

To date, 64 people in South Korea have been infected with the MERS virus, and five have died. However, the Busan authorities recently announced another case of MERS in South Korea's second-largest city. This suggests that the MERS outbreak may be spreading widely in South Korea.

Authorities revealed that more than 53,000 foreign tourists canceled their trips to South Korea due to fears of contracting the disease. A team of WHO experts will arrive in Seoul early next week to assess the situation.

(According to AFP/TTO)