People in Ansan disinfect a local market. (Photo: Screenshot from Yonhap News Agency TV footage)

 

Ansan, a city south of Seoul with over 87,000 expatriates, has reported zero infection cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday.

Ansan is dubbed home to the largest Chinese community in South Korea with a population of nearly 60,000 Chinese residing there. It was once considered as a "dangerous city of coronavirus" at the onset of this deadly epidemic in Wuhan, a city in Central China's Hubei Province, according to Yonhap.

No confirmed COVID-19 case has been reported in this city as of Wednesday, bringing a sense of relief among the Chinese people in the city, reeling under a sense of nervousness, reported Yonhap.

"We (Chinese) had gained attention as if we were coronavirus transmitters," Yonhap quoted a Chinese resident in Ansan as saying. "But this region has been excellent so far with zero (coronavirus) patients."

Locals also said they feel safe. "There are many foreigners here, but I'm relieved since no confirmed case has been reported," said Cho Yeon-hee to Yonhap.

Ansan's proactive response to the epidemic contributed to the city's zero infections, South Korean media said. It compiled guidebooks on preventive measures against the virus by translating in foreign languages and distributed them in populated areas such as markets and bus stops, news outlet MoneyToday reported Wednesday.

"We have maintained here a clean area of COVID-19," Yonhap quoted Ansan Mayor Hwa-seop as saying. "We will continue doing our best to prevent the spread of the virus together with our citizens."