Seoul COVID-19 Cases Increase by 11... All Contacted at Itaewon Clubs (Update)

On the 8th, a notice from the Seoul Metropolitan Government advising "to refrain from operating until May 5" was posted at 'King Club' in Itaewon, Seoul, where a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) had visited. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In Seoul, 11 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred in one day, raising an alarm for the quarantine authorities. All cases are related to patient number 66 from Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, who visited clubs and pubs in the Itaewon area of Yongsan-gu between the night of the 1st and the early morning of the 2nd.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that as of 10 a.m. on the 8th, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul increased by 11 from the previous day, totaling 648.

All of these new patients are males in their 20s to 30s. By residence, 4 are from Yongsan-gu, 3 from Gwanak-gu, and 1 each from Dongjak-gu and Jongno-gu, with one each residing in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, and Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do.

Previously, Seoul had no additional confirmed cases for four consecutive days since the 3rd, but with the occurrence of double-digit new cases on this day, concerns about further community transmission and additional infections have increased.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in a briefing, "A serious situation of cluster infection has occurred during the process of managing the COVID-19 crisis," and added, "We are considering issuing administrative orders to prohibit gatherings at multi-use facilities."

So far, about 1,500 people are recorded to have visited the relevant establishments, but it has been reported that some entries in the visitor logs are inaccurate. Mayor Park explained, "Among those tested, 97 have tested negative, and tests are ongoing for 6 individuals," adding, "We are continuing to identify additional contacts."

Meanwhile, among the 648 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul up to this day, 520 (80.2%) have been declared recovered and discharged, while 126 (19.4%) are receiving isolation treatment.

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