Is It the Best or the Worst... Itaewon Club-Originated Outbreak, What Is the Health Authorities' Diagnosis? (Update)

On the 12th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Itaewon clubs increases, medical staff are busy moving around at the screening clinic set up at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The quarantine authorities set best- and worst-case scenarios regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs, emphasizing that "it is a race against time."

At a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 12th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, said, "The best-case scenario related to the Itaewon club cluster outbreak is that the limited epidemic was detected early, while the worst-case scenario is that widespread community transmission has already occurred and detection is delayed."

He first cited the role of medical institutions as the best-case scenario. On the 5th, a medical institution reported a suspected patient related to the Itaewon club, confirming that the surveillance system for early detection is working well. He also pointed to the increase in the number of diagnostic tests conducted at screening clinics or by those reporting suspicious symptoms as examples.

As of the previous day, the total number of COVID-19 diagnostic tests related to the Itaewon clubs was 10,299. This includes 8,490 people who either filled out the visitor log when visiting the clubs or voluntarily visited screening clinics, and 1,809 people who were tested in the community without direct connection but related to the clubs.

As the worst-case scenario, he mentioned that social distancing rules within the clubs were not properly followed, and the visitor logs were inaccurate, causing delays in voluntary reporting and contact tracing. Deputy Director Kwon said, "Although COVID-19 transmits more than 40% before symptom onset, if more than 90% of contacts are traced and found as quickly as possible, containment is possible." He emphasized, "Because we must prepare for the possibility of further spread among club-related individuals, community transmission, and facilities or institutions where confirmed patients work, every day is very important."

According to the quarantine authorities, as of 12:00 PM on the same day, the number of confirmed cases related to the Itaewon clubs reached 102, surpassing 100 just six days after the first patient?a 29-year-old man residing in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province?was reported on the 6th. Among them, 73 were club visitors, and 29 were secondary transmissions among family, acquaintances, and colleagues.

The number of related confirmed cases by region is 64 in Seoul, 23 in Gyeonggi, 7 in Incheon, 5 in Chungbuk, 1 in Jeonbuk, 1 in Busan, and 1 in Jeju. By gender, 92 are male and 10 are female. By age group, those in their 20s accounted for the largest number with 67 cases, followed by 23 in their 30s, 4 each in their 40s and 50s, 3 under 19, and 1 aged 60 or older. Among the confirmed cases, two patients who do not overlap with the movement paths of patient number 66 in Yongin City?the index patient related to the Itaewon cluster?have been identified so far.

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