Cluster COVID-19 Infections Near 200 from Club Outbreak... "Visitors to Pubs and PC Rooms in Incheon and Anyang, Please Get Tested" (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Regular Briefing
196 Cases Related to Itaewon Clubs as of Noon on the 20th… 29 Cases of 3rd and 4th Generation Infections

On the 20th, when in-person classes postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic resumed, third-year students at a high school in Seoul are undergoing temperature checks. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The quarantine authorities have begun tracing users of karaoke rooms, pubs, and PC rooms in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province areas visited by COVID-19 patients linked to Itaewon clubs. They requested that anyone who visited these facilities within two weeks from early May get tested as soon as possible.

Jung Eun-kyeong, head of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said in a briefing on the 20th, "In Incheon, the spread related to Itaewon clubs is expanding to coin karaoke rooms, PC rooms, and taxi passengers," adding, "Students or staff who visited Vision Plaza and Seum Academy in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, or Seoul Fitness Incheon branch in Yeonsu-gu between the 6th and 19th should get tested at the nearest screening clinic."

Among facilities in Gyeonggi Province, specific locations visited by club visitors were also disclosed. These include restaurants, pubs, and PC rooms in the Anyang and Gunpo areas. These are places such as Saenggogi Jejakso Beomgye branch on the evening of the 10th, The Jjak (afternoon of the 12th), and Four Season PC Room (early morning of the 13th).

Facilities visited by COVID-19 confirmed cases in Gyeonggi-do related to Itaewon clubs. Health authorities have requested that anyone who visited these facilities during the specified period undergo diagnostic testing.

In the case of Jakua in Anyang, confirmed patients visited on the evening of the 14th as well as on the 15th and the evening of the 17th. The quarantine authorities disclosed the times of confirmed patients' visits and requested that those who visited around the same time get tested at the nearest screening clinic.

The number of confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs increased to 196 as of noon on the day. Seoul has the highest number with 100 cases, followed by Gyeonggi with 41, and Incheon with 35. Among them, 95 patients were confirmed after visiting the clubs, and 101 were family members or acquaintances who had contact with visitors. More patients were infected without visiting the clubs themselves. Notably, 29 cases of 3rd and 4th generation infections beyond secondary infections from contact with visitors were identified.

Head Jung said, "Community transmission that started from cluster infections related to clubs continues mainly in the metropolitan area, infecting students including high school seniors through multi-use facilities such as academies, PC rooms, karaoke rooms, and sports facilities," adding, "Places that are poorly ventilated and enclosed, where many people gather to eat, drink, and sing, generating many droplets and staying for long periods, are all risky spaces."