South Korea reports new spike in virus cases

More than 2 million children returned to class in South Korea Wednesday (May 27) despite a spike in new coronavirus cases.

Tuesday marked the highest daily number of new infections in well over a month.

The country reported 40 new cases as of midnight and 19 the day before.

That came as one of the country's biggest online retailers, Coupang, battles an outbreak at a logistics center west of Seoul.

At least 36 recent cases have been linked to it, though it was unclear how many of those were reported in the last day.

The center is now shuttered.

While South Korea has been lauded for its quick and effective response to the pandemic, Wednesday's numbers are among a recent resurgence of cases.

It's sparked fears of a second wave of infections.

The first case at the Coupang center was diagnosed on Saturday.

There's suspicion it's connected to an outbreak earlier this month at a nightclub in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood.

The country's vice health minister Kim Kang-lip warned Wednesday that cases linked to the logistics center may rise.

"We are very nervous about community infections and we are keeping a close eye on the situation. We are doing our best to prevent the further spread of infection through fast contact tracing and testing."

Kim says authorities suspect the Coupang center did not comply with quote 'basic' quarantine principles, and say an investigation is underway.

However, a company spokesman said the center went through daily disinfection, all employees work masks and gloves- and had their tempeartures checked.