'Gwangju COVID-19 Situation Worsens' 5 Confirmed Cases Linked to Entertainment Venues... Total 14 Cases

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The spread of COVID-19 centered around the Sangmu district, the largest entertainment area in Gwangju, is alarming. With five additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, concerns about a resurgence are becoming a reality.

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 17th, five men and women in their 10s to 40s tested positive for COVID-19, classified as cases 231 to 235.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases spreading mainly around entertainment bars in Chipyeong-dong, Gwangju, has increased to 14.

Among the confirmed cases, entertainment bar hostesses, commonly called karaoke helpers, visited as many as 18 establishments, and with ongoing epidemiological investigations and voluntary testing, the number of confirmed cases is expected to rise further.

There are cases where records of visits to entertainment bars were not properly kept, and customers are reluctant to reveal their identities, making it difficult to identify the number of contacts.

Since the day before, Gwangju City, along with autonomous districts and the police, has launched joint crackdowns on high-risk facilities under administrative restrictions such as “dallanjumjeom (karaoke bars), hunting pocha (outdoor drinking spots), gamseong jumjeom (emotional bars), colatec (dance clubs), and karaoke rooms.”

Any business found engaging in illegal activities will be subject to immediate facility closure and reported for violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act under a zero-tolerance policy.

Furthermore, if illegal activities are found in multiple businesses, additional administrative measures such as a complete ban on gatherings and facility closures for all related establishments will be enforced.

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