New COVID-19 Cases Three Days in a Row in Triple Digits
'One-Strike Out' for Quarantine Violations
Some Large Clubs Voluntarily Announce Temporary Closure
On the 29th, two days before Halloween Day, officials from the Itaewon Residents' Autonomy Committee and residents were conducting disinfection work on Itaewon Street in Yongsan-gu, Seoul to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Source=Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Ahead of Halloween Day on the 31st, a large number of people are expected to gather at clubs and pubs nationwide, prompting the government to tighten COVID-19 prevention measures. This is to prevent a recurrence of cases like the cluster infection originating from Itaewon clubs last May.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, on the 30th, a day before Halloween, said, "Given the nature of Halloween events where people dress up in various costumes and enjoy themselves, the situation cannot be considered safe," and urged, "Since there is a high possibility of large-scale infection spreading if the virus transmits in densely crowded places, please refrain from Halloween gatherings or events as much as possible."
Every year on Halloween, people flock to areas densely packed with clubs and pubs such as Itaewon, Hongdae, Gangnam in Seoul, and Seomyeon in Busan, dressed in costumes (Halloween outfits) to enjoy Halloween. Especially Itaewon, considered a symbol of Halloween, is a bustling place visited by about 100,000 people annually.
Having painfully experienced the cluster infection from clubs last May, the quarantine authorities are putting all their efforts into strengthening prevention measures ahead of Halloween. Until Halloween day, the authorities will focus on checking compliance with key quarantine rules at major nightlife venues during weekend late-night hours (10 PM to 3 AM).
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has assigned two dedicated public officials per establishment to a total of 108 clubs and emotional pubs in areas such as Itaewon and Hongdae. These officials will be stationed on-site to check mask-wearing and entry log records, and if any quarantine rule violations are detected, the 'one-strike-out system' will be applied, resulting in a two-week closure.
Some large clubs in Seoul have voluntarily declared temporary closures in response to these strict measures. They judged that it is better to forgo the 'Halloween special' than to become a source of COVID-19 spread.
As social distancing has been prolonged and the levels downgraded, the sense of crisis has loosened, and the quarantine authorities are also concerned about ongoing infections in daily life, especially in the metropolitan area, through family and acquaintance gatherings, schools, workplaces, and saunas. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of midnight on the 30th, there were 114 new confirmed cases. Although this is fewer than the previous day (125 cases), it remains in the triple digits and is higher than the average daily confirmed cases (96.4) over the past two weeks.
Halloween events should utilize non-face-to-face and non-contact methods, and if face-to-face gatherings are unavoidable, they must be held in small groups of 10 or fewer. Costumes should be personal items rather than rented, and some parts of costumes cannot replace masks. Additionally, masks should not be worn under masks or with other face coverings such as masks or similar items.
A CDCH official stated, "To prevent infection, activities that generate droplets such as shouting or singing should be avoided," and added, "Drinking glasses and utensils should be used individually, and food should not be shared."
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