'One Week Away' Anxious Halloween Day... Health Authorities Urge "Avoid Events and Club Visits"

Concerns Over Group Infections Rise Ahead of Halloween Day
Some Clubs Already Holding 'Early Halloween'
Yongsan-gu Checks Compliance with Quarantine Rules During Halloween Period
Health Authorities Urge "Avoid Visiting Multi-Use Facilities Like Clubs and Pubs"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] With Halloween Day just a week away, concerns are growing that a new cluster infection of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) originating from clubs may reoccur.

Halloween Day is a representative American event where people dress up as ghosts or monsters and go around collecting candy and chocolate. The Halloween Day imported to Korea has taken the form of young people in various costumes roaming the bustling areas dense with clubs. Every year around Halloween, it is easy to see young people in unusual costumes strolling the streets or dancing in clubs in busy districts such as Itaewon, Hongdae, and Gangnam.

For clubs, which had been struggling due to a lack of customers for a while, this Halloween is also a peak season. With social distancing eased to level 1 on the 12th of this month, allowing entertainment facilities such as clubs to open, many clubs have resumed operations. Some clubs that have finished preparing for events have already started promoting Halloween Day and attracting customers. Some places have even started Halloween Day parties early from this weekend ahead of Halloween Day.

Given this situation, voices of concern are rising that COVID-19 cluster infections might spread through this Halloween. Especially since those enjoying Halloween tend to gather in groups for photo shoots and often use face paint, there are many doubts about whether quarantine rules such as mask-wearing will be properly followed. A public petition has even appeared requesting the closure of entertainment facilities such as clubs during Halloween Day.

Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where Itaewon is located, plans to inspect compliance with quarantine rules at high-risk facilities for a week from the 26th of this month to the 1st of next month. Every year, more than 100,000 people have gathered in Itaewon around Halloween Day. On that day and the following weekend, October 30-31, Yongsan-gu, Seoul city, and the police agency plan to conduct joint nighttime crackdowns on food and beverage establishments in the Itaewon area.

The quarantine authorities also view Halloween Day as a potential catalyst for the spread of COVID-19 and have taken preemptive measures. On the 24th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), said at a regular briefing regarding Halloween gatherings, "COVID-19 can occur in any '3Cs' (closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings) environment," and urged, "If you have fever or respiratory symptoms, please refrain from attending events with many people or visiting multi-use facilities such as clubs and pubs."

Deputy Director Kwon added, "When participating in events, please refrain from activities that may generate droplets such as physical contact or singing, and also avoid sharing food," emphasizing, "Stay for as short a time as possible, and if symptoms appear after the gathering, get tested immediately."