K-pop star Kim Jaejoong has apologised for posting on Instagram that he was in hospital having contracted Covid-19, admitting it was an April fool’s joke.
The singer told fans he had caught the virus after “ignoring” government warnings and “living carelessly”. In a subsequent post, he claimed he had simply wanted to raise awareness of the virus. But the now-deleted joke appears to have backfired with many of his 1.9m followers voicing their disapproval.
Coronavirus in South Korea
South Korea was one of the first countries hit by coronavirus, and it is believed to have killed 177 people there so far. According to some experts the government’s “rapid, intrusive measures,” including strict quarantine and testing have helped to curb the spread.