The casino operator responsible for the Kangwon Land Casino situated in Gangwon Province, South Korea has decided to extend the venue’s temporary closure for several more days. This came as a direct result of measures which are implemented by casino and hotel venues in the area to prevent the highly-contagious virus from spreading. So far, the Wuhan virus officially known SARS-CoV-2 which causes the coronavirus disease has killed twenty-nine locals.
According to one report released by Inside Asian Gaming on Sunday, the Kangwon Land Incorporated company responsible for the Kangwon Land Casino venue initially closed down the doors of the nation’s only gambling facility available to local residents back on the 23rd of February. This decision came shortly after the South Korean government raised its alert level concerning the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus strain to the highest degree.
The operator responsible for the Kangwon Land Casino venue, later on, decided to extend that one-week-long temporary closure by three more days following the number of local residents infected by the highly-contagious virus rose to over four thousand and two hundred. In addition to South Korea, several other countries besides China where the virus was first noticed recorded rising cases of infected individuals including Italy, and Iran.
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus Reportedly Introduced by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus
Officially named as 2019-nCoV or 2019 novel coronavirus, the potentially lethal coronavirus strain was first reported in later December in the city of Wuhan. Since then, the coronavirus strain has spread to over sixty countries globally including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Iceland, Thailand, Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Algeria and Nigeria among others.
The disease resulting from the virus infection causes symptoms that resemble those of pneumonia including coughs and high fevers. As reported by several local news outlets, the illness caused by the virus was spread in South Korea by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus members. This is a religious organization commonly referred to as Shincheonji. It was officially established back on the 14th of March in 1984 by Lee Man-hee.
The organization is frequently being the focus on many controversies. As estimated in 2014, it had over 120,000 members while more recent reports suggest that it has over 200,00 members. Released several days ago, the latest investigation into the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea suggests that a dozen Shincheonji members from China were closely related to the Shincheonji outbreak. As reported, a sixty-one-year-old resident of Daegu is strongly believed to have spread the potentially lethal virus. By the 23rd of February, over three hundred new infection cases were recorded among Shincheonji members and their families.
The Nation’s Only Casino Closed Until the 8th of March
Following growing fears about more people getting infected, the casino operator responsible for the nation’s only casino available to locals Kangwon Land Casino will remain closed until the 8th of March. This means that its casino floor remains closed along with other amenities including its hotel and ski resort. The property’s family-oriented theme park Water World will also remain closed for twelve more days until the 20th of March.
The Kangwon Land Casino venue is located in Gangwon province around ninety-three miles from the country’s capital city Seoul. It offers visitors a selection of almost one thousand slot games and around one hundred gaming tables. Commenting on the news about extending the venue’s temporary closure, the operator said that it values the safety of its customers the most, while none of its visitors and staff had tested positive for the 2019-nCoV.
