200,000 South Koreans lose jobs due to virus

South Korea lost nearly 200,000 jobs in March as the coronavirus shocks its economy and labor markets.

Statistics Korea said the 195,000 jobs lost was the largest monthly decline since May 2009 during a global financial crisis.

The country has confirmed 10,635 virus cases and 230 deaths. Friday's 22 new cases was the fifth straight daily increase in the 20s.

No fresh cases were reported in the hardest-hit city of Daegu where infections have waned. The impact of Wednesday's national parliamentary elections, which had the highest turnout in nearly 30 years despite the coronavirus, will take a week or two to assess.-AP