S. Korea declares de-facto end of MERS outbreak

SEOUL -- South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday declared the de-facto end of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak as all MERS suspects were freed from quarantine amid no reports of new contagion cases for more than three weeks.

Women wearing masks to prevent contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) walk at Myeongdong shopping district in central Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2015.  [Photo/Agencies]

"It is the judgment of the medical circles and the government that people can now feel relieved when collectively thinking various situations," Hwang said during a cabinet meeting to control the deadly viral disease.

Hwang noted that all MERS suspects were freed from self and mandatory quarantine as of Monday and no new case of MERS infection was reported for more than three weeks. He added that 15 hospitals were also freed from the designation as medical institutions required to be intensively managed for MERS spread.

The declaration came 69 days after the first patient was discovered on May 20. The corona virus has infected 186 people, among whom 36 passed away.

The total contagion number has been unchanged at 186 for 23 days since July 6. The death toll was left at 36 for 17 days since July 12.