Following Gangnam Entertainment Venues, Hundreds of Contacts at Serae Village Cocktail Bars...

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Following a confirmed case of COVID-19 in an employee at a large entertainment establishment in Gangnam, Seoul, additional positive cases have been reported among the operator and staff at a cocktail bar in Seocho-gu, prompting an emergency response from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and health authorities.

On the 9th, Na Baek-ju, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizen Health Bureau, stated at a regular COVID-19 briefing, "A man in his 40s who operates a cocktail bar in Seorae Village was first confirmed positive on the 7th, and on the 8th, his spouse and a cocktail bar employee also tested positive, bringing the total number of related confirmed cases to three."

The spouse of the initial confirmed case is an airline crew member who was confirmed positive after returning from a business trip to the United States. The cocktail bar employee was found to have visited a PC bang in Dongjak-gu between the 1st and 7th.

Director Na said, "Currently, there are about 200 contacts related to the cocktail bar and PC bang, and tests are being conducted on all of them," adding, "Both locations have been closed and disinfected."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has also received customer logs from the Gangnam entertainment establishment 'ㅋㅋ&Trend,' where a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, and has launched an investigation. Customers who visited the establishment on the relevant dates are being advised to self-isolate and undergo testing.

Director Na explained, "There are currently 117 close contacts among the entertainment establishment staff identified. So far, one roommate staff member has tested positive, 75 have tested negative, 34 are awaiting results, and 7 are scheduled for testing."

As announced the previous day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has issued a ban on gatherings at all entertainment facilities in Seoul until the 19th. This includes a total of 4,685 establishments?2,164 venues such as room salons, clubs, and colatecs, and 2,539 danranjumeok (karaoke bars)?effectively prohibiting their operation and planning strict enforcement.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.