Name: Asia Pacific on virus alert as cases rise
Uploaded: 2020-12-26T18:31:09.000Z
Duration: 1 min 53 s
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A number of countries across the Asia Pacific region are once again on high alert.

South Korea posted its second highest daily number of cases on Saturday as outbreaks at a prison, nursing homes and churches continued to grow, prompting authorities to call for a halt toe all year end gatherings.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said there were 1132 new coronavirus cases on Friday, not far off the record 1241 logged just a day earlier.

The government plans to hold a meeting on Sunday to discuss whether it will tighten distancing rules to the toughest level for the greatest soul area.

Coronavirus infections in Tokyo also hit a record daily high of 949 cases on Saturday as Japan heads into the New Year holiday with new year celebrations centered around family gatherings and visits to temples and shrines.

Experts have warned moderation will be essential to prevent infection rates from rising.

Meantime, in Australia, Sydney residents were urged not ahead to the shops for Boxing day bargains as those in some northern beachside suburbs prepared to re enter a strict locked down for three days from Sunday as the city seeks to stamp out a new outbreak.

 The state of New South Wales recorded nine new coronavirus cases, eight of them directly linked to the Northern Beaches outbreak, which now stands at 116 confirmed cases locked down measures for some suburbs were imposed on December 19 but were eased slightly for the Christmas break. 