Over 1,200 Foreigners Among Base Station Users... English Guidance Texts Sent
‘Walk-Through Screening Clinic’ Installed in Hannam-dong
Due to the group infection at Itaewon clubs, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rapidly increasing. On the 11th, foreigners visiting the screening clinic at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are undergoing diagnostic tests. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul linked to the cluster infection originating from Itaewon clubs increased by 5 in one day, bringing the total to 69. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced that about 10% of visitors to clubs in the Itaewon area are foreigners, and is encouraging foreigners who have visited the clubs or live nearby to actively get tested.
According to Seoul city on the 13th, as of 10 a.m. that day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul was 708. This is 5 more than the 703 cases reported at the same time the previous day, and 13 more than the 690 cases announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of midnight the previous day.
All new confirmed cases were classified as contacts related to the Itaewon clubs. The confirmed cases were reported from all over Seoul, including Yongsan-gu, Seongdong, Dongdaemun, Dobong, Nowon, Yangcheon, Gangseo, Yeongdeungpo, Dongjak, Gwanak, Songpa (2 cases), and Gangdong districts.
Seoul city also revealed that among 10,905 people who connected to mobile phone base stations near five Itaewon clubs?King Club, Trunk, Queen, Soho, and Hymn?from April 24 to May 6, 11% or 1,210 were foreigners. English guidance messages were immediately sent to these foreigners, instructing them to get tested at public health center screening clinics.
In addition to the five clubs under full investigation, additional confirmed cases or visits by confirmed patients were identified at Itaewon's 'Made', 'Pink Elephant', 'Pistil', and 'The Fountain'. As a result, quarantine measures and temporary closures have been completed, and contacts are being identified.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon stated, "We have secured the visitor list from Club Made and are contacting those on it, and we have also requested additional information on base station connections." He urged, "Since infectious diseases require rapid response, those who visited clubs in the Itaewon area should promptly and voluntarily get tested without delay."
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education confirmed that 53 native-speaking teachers who lecture at schools visited Itaewon. Among them, 6 teachers visited clubs; 4 tested negative, and 2 are awaiting results.
Mayor Park explained, "Since native-speaking teachers who visited Itaewon are spread nationwide, parents may be anxious, but as schools have not yet reopened, the possibility of transmission to students is very low. No native-speaking teachers in Seoul have tested positive so far."
In response to the surge in testing demand caused by the Itaewon club cluster infection, the city has established a 'Walk-Through Screening Clinic' in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, which began operation on the same day. This screening clinic, located in the public parking lot next to the Hannam-dong Community Service Center (224-19 Itaewon-ro), operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and weekends.
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