Global outbreak raises fears

SEOUL: International concern about the spread of Covid-19 outside China grew with sharp rises in infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran.The government in Seoul put the country on high alert after the number of infections surged over 700 with seven deaths.

A focal point was a church in the city of Daegu, where a 61-year-old member of the congregation with no recent record of overseas travel tested positive for the virus.