Itaewon Club Outbreak Leads to '5th Wave of Infections'... 'Cumulative Increase of 219 Cases' (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, has increased to 219. Fifth-generation infections have also appeared, causing health authorities to be on high alert.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 23rd, as of noon that day, the number of confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs increased by 4 from 215 to 219. In particular, 2 cases of fifth-generation infection were confirmed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

By region, there are 103 cases in Seoul, 55 in Gyeonggi, 40 in Incheon, 9 in Chungbuk, 4 in Busan, 2 in Gyeongnam, 2 in Jeonbuk, 1 in Daejeon, 1 in Chungnam, 1 in Gangwon, and 1 in Jeju. Currently, 95 cases were infected through visits to Itaewon clubs, and 124 cases were infected through contact with visitors’ family members or acquaintances.

By age group, there are 25 cases aged 18 or younger, 121 cases aged 19 to 29, 32 in their 30s, 18 in their 40s, 12 in their 50s, and 11 aged 60 or older. By gender, there are 173 males and 46 females.

Kwon Jun-wook, deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, pointed out in a briefing, "If we limit the maximum incubation period to the club, it is true that it passed as of the 21st, but when we looked for the transmission links starting from the first infection, fifth-generation transmission was confirmed in 2 cases, and overall the entire transmission chain discovered at Itaewon clubs is still ongoing."

Deputy Head Kwon emphasized, "Even if it is late, if there are people who visited Itaewon clubs at that time and feel somewhat suspicious but do not have respiratory symptoms, or are healthy but ignored slight abnormalities, it is necessary to get tested now even if it seems late."

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the same day, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 23 compared to the previous day. Domestically, 13 cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province, 4 in Seoul, and 1 each in Daegu and Gyeongnam. Four cases were confirmed overseas, with 3 detected during airport quarantine and 1 additional case in Daejeon.

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