From Hongdae Pub to Busan Gwangalli... Infection Routes Multiply Amid 'Untraceable Patients'

Many Asymptomatic and Mild Cases Make Epidemiological Investigation Difficult
Health Authorities Warn of Nth Generation Infections
Experts Urge Testing Regardless of Symptoms

Amid concerns over the secondary spread of the novel coronavirus infection due to the Itaewon club cluster infection, on the morning of the 10th, a closure order was posted at a trendy pub in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, which was visited by three confirmed Itaewon club patients. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from clubs in Itaewon, Seoul spreads, so-called 'unknown source' patients whose infection routes cannot be identified are emerging nationwide.

In particular, confirmed cases have been reported among those who visited Hongdae pubs and Busan Gwangalli, which are unrelated to the Itaewon clubs, creating a situation where experts warn that preparations for a large-scale epidemic are necessary.

Consequently, health authorities and the medical community are pointing out the need to prepare for an 'Nth wave' of the epidemic. Given that a significant number of confirmed cases are asymptomatic, there is a consensus on the necessity of diagnostic testing to accurately trace infection routes and prevent further spread.

According to health authorities and local governments on the 13th, a COVID-19 confirmed case was identified among people who visited a pub in Hongdae.

A social service worker A (22, male) residing in Seo-gu, Incheon, visited a Hongdae pub with acquaintances on the 7th and began experiencing a sore throat from the 10th. A had been on leave since April 30.

Subsequently, on the 11th, A visited the safe clinic at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and tested positive for COVID-19 through specimen testing.

A visited a pub near Hongdae with acquaintances but was confirmed not to have visited Itaewon, where the cluster infection occurred.

Currently, eight people, including six relatives and A's parents who had contact with A, are undergoing specimen testing and are in self-quarantine.

This is not the only infection case unrelated to Itaewon clubs. B (30, female), who showed coughing symptoms on the 10th, also tested positive and was transferred to Gachon University Gil Medical Center. B had not visited Itaewon, Seoul.

Investigations revealed that B visited Busan Gwangalli on the 8th and 9th with an acquaintance using KTX and then went alone to an unmanned coin karaoke and coin arcade in Guwol 3-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon on the 10th.

Medical staff are conducting tests at the screening clinic of Yeongdeungpo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul on the afternoon of the 11th, amid a rapid increase in cluster infections of the novel coronavirus related to Itaewon clubs. Photo by Yonhap News

The problem lies in the slow identification of the transmission source, making it difficult to trace the routes of unknown source patients.

Moreover, second and third transmission cases, which health authorities had feared, are occurring consecutively, raising concerns about community transmission.

On the 13th, Incheon City announced that a Korean language tutor A (34, female) tested positive for COVID-19.

A is presumed to have been infected by the twin siblings (13) she tutors. Furthermore, these twins were confirmed to have been infected by another tutor who had visited the Itaewon clubs.

Regarding this, Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at the regular briefing that "If the infection was transmitted through students, it can be considered a third infection."

She added, "There is still an incubation period for third infections. It is possible that third infections occur due to additional exposure from second infection cases. Our goal is to minimize third infections through the fastest possible investigation and contact management."

Experts also anticipated that asymptomatic infected individuals existed in the community even before the club incidents. Health authorities had predicted a significant number of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections.

At the regular briefing on the 1st, Director Jung said, "We predict that there are a considerable number of infected individuals we have not detected," and added, "We are planning immunity surveys and antibody positivity immunity surveys targeting the general population."

On the 11th, when concerns about the spread of COVID-19 from Itaewon clubs were rising, citizens lined up to get tested at a screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul.
Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Experts urge people to get tested regardless of symptoms, as many cases have unknown infection routes.

Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center commented on concerns about the Nth wave, saying, "The cluster infections in Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions were the second wave, and if the current spread continues, it will be the third wave. We need to observe the pattern of confirmed cases from this weekend to early next week, but conditions for a large-scale epidemic exist."

He continued, "While a large-scale epidemic is certainly possible, epidemiological investigation information is still insufficient to determine the extent and transmission of the spread."

He advised, "Since one-third of the current confirmed cases are asymptomatic, we recommend diagnostic testing regardless of symptoms. People who are considered at risk of infection should actively participate in testing as soon as possible. This is one way to reduce community spread."

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