New COVID-19 Cases Visited Itaewon Clubs Before and After Symptoms Appeared

An announcement of temporary closure is posted at a club in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul, last March.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] New confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurring in the local community after four days were found to have visited a club in Seoul and a nearby restaurant before and after symptoms appeared.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters and Yongin City on the 7th, one locally transmitted patient counted as a new case on this day was identified as a resident of Yongin. He is a 29-year-old male who, according to epidemiological investigation, had symptoms starting from the 2nd. He has no underlying diseases, developed fever and diarrhea, underwent a visit test on the 5th, and was confirmed positive the next day. He has been transferred to Suwon Hospital of Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center.

This patient is known to have visited a club in Itaewon, Seoul, in the early morning of the 2nd, so an epidemiological investigation is expected to determine whether he was infected there or if secondary transmission occurred at that location. Since COVID-19 is known to have high viral shedding before and after symptoms appear, concerns about additional infections have increased. It is reported that about 2,000 people visited the club. A Yongin City official explained, "It has been 28 days since the last locally transmitted confirmed case not related to overseas entry was identified on the 7th of last month," adding, "We are conducting an epidemiological investigation as it is understood that this confirmed case was infected outside Yongin."

As of midnight on this day, the number of confirmed domestic cases increased by 4 compared to the previous day. The daily new confirmed cases have remained below 20 for 20 consecutive days since entering the 10s with 18 cases on the 18th of last month. Among the new cases, 3 were imported from overseas and 1 was locally transmitted. Local community infections had recorded zero for three consecutive days until the previous day but occurred once in Gyeonggi Province after four days on this day. One patient was identified during quarantine. By region, one case was found each in Daejeon, Gyeonggi, and Chungbuk.

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