(VOVworld) – Republic of Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday gave full authority to a task force over the MERS virus, the latest in a series of efforts to contain the disease that has killed 7 South Koreans.

Republic of Korean President Park Geun-hye

 The task force, mostly composed of medical experts, is empowered, among other things, to decide whether to shut down hospitals. She asked officials and experts to mobilize all quarantine resources to try to contain the virus this week. South Korea has been on high alert against the disease since its first patient was reported on May 20. So far, 87 South Koreans have tested positive for MERS, of whom 7 have died.  She also called on officials and experts to thoroughly monitor whether people suspected of being infected with MERS remain in self-quarantine, the key measure to stop the spread of the virus.