8 new MERS cases, total patients 162

Eight new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total patients diagnosed with the virus to 162.

Four of the cases were linked to an emergency room in Samsung Medical Hospital in Seoul. The hospital has shut down most of its operations after it was blamed for nearly half of all transmissions of the virus.

There have been no deaths of patients of the virus since Tuesday and the number of people who recovered from the virus and were discharged from hospitals increased by two to 19, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.

There have been 19 MERS-related deaths in the nation since the virus’ outbreak in the nation was confirmed on May 20.