No fewer than 1,300 South Koreans have been placed under quarantine for suspected Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infection.
According to Kwon Joon-wook, head of the central headquarters for management of the MERS, 1,312 people were on the isolation list of the health authorities.
The number of people placed under quarantine jumped from 791 on Tuesday to 1,364 today, Wednesday.
52 people were, however, freed from the isolation as they showed no specific symptom during the incubation period of two weeks.
Reports say about 1,200 people were on the self-quarantine list, which means that they refrain from going outside and stay at home under the regular check of the health authorities.
Among the total 398 MERS-infected suspects, 29 have been tested positive as of today, Wednesday, with one diagnosed with the MERS in China.
Yesterday, South Korean recorded the first 2 deaths from the MERS virus.
The MERS, which was first discovered in humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012, is a respiratory illness caused by a new type of corona-virus that is similar to the one causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).