COVID-19 Spreading to Incheon... Additional Confirmed Case in 30s Contacted Visitor to Itaewon (Update)

Confirmed Cases Related to Itaewon Clubs Increase to 7
3 Cases Are Secondary Infections in Incheon

On the 8th, a citizen is passing in front of 'King Club' in Itaewon, Seoul, which was visited by a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that occurred at a club in Itaewon, Seoul, appears to be spreading to Incheon. Concerns about secondary infections within the region are growing, with seven confirmed cases already identified in Incheon alone.

On the 9th, Incheon City announced that a man in his 30s who visited the Itaewon club and came into contact with a confirmed case tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the city, Mr. A (34) spent about an hour with confirmed case B (25), the 102nd confirmed patient in Incheon, at his home in Michuhol-gu around 7 p.m. on the 5th. B had visited the King Club in Itaewon on the 2nd and 3rd. On the 6th, Mr. A also visited a gym at 2 p.m., then went to a car dealership and shopping center with B. Around 5 p.m., they had a meal together at a restaurant in Michuhol-gu. After B was confirmed positive for COVID-19 that morning, A was classified as a contact. He later tested positive at the Michuhol-gu Public Health Center and was urgently transferred to Incheon Medical Center.

With this, the number of confirmed cases related to Itaewon in Incheon has risen to seven. Among them, four confirmed patients directly visited Itaewon clubs or pubs. Three others are secondary infections within Incheon who had contact with these individuals.

The secondary infections include the 98th confirmed patient (28), the sister of C (21, from Bupyeong-gu), who visited the King Club in Itaewon on the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th; the 99th confirmed patient (26), who came into contact with C at a dance practice on the 6th; and Mr. A, totaling three people.

Notably, tracking C’s movements before testing positive revealed that he traveled between Seoul and Incheon almost without wearing a mask. There remains a possibility of additional confirmed cases, raising concerns about secondary infections within the region.

Since approximately 2,000 people are estimated to have visited the Itaewon club that C attended, the city has established close cooperation with Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, sharing epidemiological investigation results to identify contacts and movement paths. Citizens who visited the King, Trunk, or Queen clubs in Itaewon between midnight and 3:50 a.m. on the 2nd are also advised to visit their local public health centers for COVID-19 testing.

Furthermore, an administrative order has been implemented recommending the suspension of operations at 1,058 entertainment facilities in Incheon, including 31 clubs and 127 pubs, until the 7th of next month. While strongly encouraging these facilities to refrain from operating, if operation is unavoidable, they must comply with quarantine guidelines such as temperature checks at entrances, mandatory mask-wearing for all staff and patrons, and designation of a quarantine manager.

Incheon Mayor Namchun Park stated via SNS, "We will conduct intensive inspections with the police to ensure compliance with the administrative order for entertainment facilities and will actively enforce gathering bans if violations occur." He added, "Since the success of the initial response to this cluster infection is crucial for children’s return to school, we will do our utmost to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we ask citizens to strictly follow quarantine rules."

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