Incheon City Orders Closure of Entertainment Venues... Mandatory Diagnostic Testing for Nursing Hospitals (Comprehensive)

Suspension of Entertainment Venues Including Clubs, Room Salons, and Colatecs for 2 Weeks
Mandatory Diagnostic Testing and Prohibition of Close Contact for Itaewon Club Visitors
Mandatory Diagnostic Testing for New Patients and Medical Staff at Nursing Hospitals and Psychiatric Medical Institutions

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun is making an emergency announcement on the 10th regarding the 'COVID-19 Itaewon Club Cluster Infection.'
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has issued an administrative order banning gatherings for two weeks at all entertainment facilities in the city following the spread of a COVID-19 cluster infection linked to clubs in Itaewon, Seoul.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Mayor Park Namchun announced in an online emergency briefing at Incheon City Hall, "Starting from 8 PM today, a mandatory gathering ban order will be enforced for two weeks on entertainment establishments including clubs, room salons, karaoke clubs, stand bars, cabarets, and colatecs."

The gathering ban order prohibits people from gathering at entertainment establishments, effectively serving as a business suspension order.

Violators may face up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of 20 million KRW under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, and if the violation causes further spread of infection, quarantine costs may be charged.

Incheon City also issued COVID-19 diagnostic testing and interpersonal contact prohibition orders for individuals who visited the Itaewon clubs. The order targets people who visited any of the six clubs located in Itaewon?King, Queen, Trunk, The Fountain, Soho, and Him?and who have a residence, workplace, or other ties in Incheon.

Additionally, administrative orders with compliance requirements were issued for nursing hospitals and psychiatric medical institutions within the region.

New patients at nursing hospitals, as well as newly employed medical staff and caregivers, must undergo diagnostic testing and receive a negative result before admission or starting work.

Mayor Park Namchun stated, "We recognize the seriousness of the situation as cases of COVID-19 cluster infections linked to Itaewon clubs are increasing and spreading into the local community. For effective and thorough prevention of transmission, we urge the targeted individuals to voluntarily undergo diagnostic testing and for citizens under self-quarantine orders to strictly comply."

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's tally as of the 10th, there are 54 confirmed cases nationwide related to the Itaewon club cluster infection: 30 in Seoul, 14 in Gyeonggi, 6 in Incheon, 2 in Chungbuk, 1 in Busan, and 1 in Jeju.

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