Itaewon Cluster Infection, Social Distancing Effective but... Need to Monitor for About One More Week

Three Consecutive Days of Single-Digit Local COVID-19 Cases

On the 14th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Itaewon clubs increases, citizens are lining up to get tested at a walk-through screening clinic set up at a public parking lot in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol, Kim Heung-soon, Jo Hyun-ui] On the 18th, 15 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were confirmed. The cluster infections spreading mainly around the Itaewon club area appear to be entering a 'stable phase' nearly two weeks after the first patient was identified. Despite being the first cluster infection that emerged immediately after the transition to the so-called "everyday quarantine system" on June 6, it did not escalate into a large-scale outbreak, which brought relief to the quarantine authorities. However, sporadic cases of "unknown infection routes" continue to appear in the community, keeping the authorities on alert.

15 New Confirmed Cases... 5 Local Cases
Local Cases in Single Digits for Three Consecutive Days

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19, as of midnight on this day, out of 15 new confirmed cases, 5 were classified as locally transmitted. The remaining 10 cases are presumed to have been imported, including 7 detected during quarantine. The total number of people infected after visiting or contacting visitors to the Itaewon clubs currently stands at 168. This is the result of nearly 70,000 diagnostic tests conducted over about two weeks since the first confirmed case in Yongin on June 6, tracking visitors and contacts.

New cases related to the Itaewon clubs peaked at 29 on June 11 (including 8 infections from visitors and contacts) and have steadily declined since. Even when considering only local transmissions excluding Itaewon club cases, the number has remained in single digits for three consecutive days.

Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said on this day, "Since last Saturday, the number of new confirmed cases from the Itaewon club cluster has remained in single digits," adding, "The absence of explosive outbreaks like before is thanks to the public's vigilance and active response, as well as local governments' efforts to minimize community spread through bans on gatherings at entertainment facilities and infection testing orders."

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare, center), is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) held on the morning of the 18th at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City.<이미지:Photo by Yonhap News>

Effectiveness of Social Distancing in Churches and Workplaces
Adhering to Quarantine Rules and Strengthening Management of High-Risk Facilities
Authorities: "Incubation Period Remains, Need to Monitor Further"

There were several moments when the risk of COVID-19 spreading into a large-scale epidemic due to the Itaewon club cluster was high. This was because confirmed cases visited or stayed at facilities where cluster outbreaks had previously occurred, such as churches and call centers. However, local governments quickly implemented quarantine responses learned from previous cluster infections like the Shincheonji Church and the Seoul Guro-gu call center, and with the participation of related members in social distancing and everyday quarantine, a serious situation was prevented.

Two secondary infections related to the Itaewon club cluster visited two churches in Michuhol-gu and Dong-gu, Incheon, respectively. However, the churches implemented mandatory temperature checks and mask-wearing upon entry, and maintained a 1-2 meter distance between worshippers during services, effectively preventing further spread. A total of 762 people classified as contacts at these churches underwent diagnostic testing, all of whom tested negative. Similarly, a call center at a financial company in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, where confirmed cases were found, conducted pre-entry thermal screening and arranged seating to encourage distancing among employees, successfully preventing additional infections.

Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital evaluated, "As social distancing has been implemented for a long time, with mask-wearing becoming routine and the public refraining from visiting crowded places, the majority of people have complied with quarantine rules. Additionally, management of high-risk facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals, where large-scale outbreaks could occur, has been strengthened, reducing the likelihood of rapid community spread."

However, it is not yet time to be complacent, as there have been cases where individuals with suspected symptoms initially tested negative but later tested positive. Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated, "The incubation period for visitors to the Itaewon clubs has not ended," and added, "It is necessary to continue monitoring for about another week."

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