A worker from a cleaning and disinfection service sprays disinfectant in a train as part of efforts to prevent the spread of a new virus at Suseo railway station in Seoul on Jan 24, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Hong Yoon-gi)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday put South Korea on its highest alert level, code red. This is the first time South Korea has reached code red since the 2009 outbreak of H1N1 swine flu. The Ministry of Health said the next few days will be a critical time for South Korea in the fight against the virus.