Seoul City Reports 90 COVID-19 Cases Linked to Itaewon Clubs, 7 New Cases (Update)

by Kim Yuri

Published 16 May.2020 13:20(KST)

As of 10 AM on the 16th
5 new confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs on the 15th
2 cases confirmed related after epidemiological investigation, reclassified

On the 15th, citizens visiting the COVID-19 screening clinic set up in the yard in front of Yeongdeungpo Public Health Center in Seoul are undergoing screening tests. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] As of 10 a.m. on the 16th, Seoul city announced that there are 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 related to Itaewon clubs in Yongsan-gu. This is an increase of 7 cases since midnight on the 15th.

There were 5 new confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs on the 15th. New cases were reported in Yongsan, Eunpyeong, Seodaemun, Gwanak, and Gangnam districts. Two cases that were not previously classified as related to Itaewon clubs were reclassified after epidemiological investigations confirmed their connection with confirmed patients who visited Itaewon clubs.

The two reclassified cases are patient number 709 in Gangseo-gu and patient number 713 in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. The Gangseo-gu patient was the first to show symptoms among five confirmed cases that occurred at a pub near Hongdae. Authorities initially could not find a link between the Hongdae pub infections and Itaewon, but discovered that the Gangseo-gu patient used the same karaoke room as a confirmed patient who visited an Itaewon club.

The Gangbuk-gu patient was confirmed positive after being tested at a screening clinic in Yeongdeungpo-gu on the 13th. The infection route of this patient has not yet been disclosed.

The infection route of a confirmed police officer from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Tourist Police Unit, who worked in Itaewon and other areas, is also under investigation.