eFM News

[Anchor]

Concerns continue to linger over secondary and tertiary coronavirus infections from a new cluster in the nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that at least 153 confirmed cases are tied to the cluster.

Ninety of them were at bars and clubs in Itaewon while the remaining 63 are people that they came into.

Ron Chang reports.

[Reporter]

Health authorities are on edge over secondary, tertiary and now further coronavirus infections from the bar and club scene of Itaewon.

That is why officials are putting a priority on finding all nightlife visitors and those that they came into contact with.

According to the KCDC, out of around 5,500 people that visited five establishments from the end of April to early May, about 4,300 of them have been tested.

That means around 1,200 people still need to undergo diagnostic testing.

Another concern is that the number of infections among the family members, acquaintances and colleagues of confirmed cases that went to bars and clubs is steadily rising.

Officials worry this figure could increase, and that would lead to a possible second wave of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, here in Seoul, Mayor Park Won-soon pointed out that over 20,000 people recently visited nightlife hotspots not only in Itaewon but also in Mapo and the Hongik University area.

Concerns are rising over additional infections at singing rooms after one of the latest confirmed patients is known to have visited one.

Park stressed that this weekend is key to preventing the further spread of the virus, noting the start of classes for high school seniors next Wednesday.

KCDC Director Jung Eun-kyeong also urged caution, asking the public to refrain from visiting multiuse facilities and attending gatherings.