"Temporary Closure and Enhanced Disinfection" ... Surge in Confirmed Cases Puts Metropolitan Area Department Stores on Alert

On the 11th, after a worker at the supermarket on the basement 1st floor of Lotte Department Store Seoul Yeongdeungpo Branch tested positive for COVID-19, a department store official posted a closure notice at the entrance of the basement 1st floor.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the cluster infection at Hyundai Department Store Trade Center branch exceeded 100, confirmed cases have been reported one after another at major department stores in the Seoul metropolitan area, triggering an alert in the distribution industry.

Many department stores are using the regular closing day on the 12th to strengthen disinfection within their stores.

Lotte Department Store closed the entire basement 1st floor immediately after an employee working at the supermarket on the basement 1st floor of the Yeongdeungpo branch in Seoul tested positive for COVID-19 on the previous day (11th). It was reported that this employee worked at the supermarket checkout from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. between the 7th and 9th.

Since the 12th is the regular monthly closing day for department stores, all 17 Lotte Department Store branches in the Seoul metropolitan area will be closed except for the Suwon branch and some outlets and Lotte Malls. The Yeongdeungpo branch, where confirmed cases were reported, will also be closed for the entire day.

A Lotte Department Store official said, "The Yeongdeungpo branch has closed the basement 1st floor for two days starting from the 11th and is conducting intensive disinfection. All employees on that floor are also undergoing COVID-19 testing."

Hyundai Department Store will operate normally only at the Apgujeong main branch in Seoul on the 12th, while 10 branches in the metropolitan area, including The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, Cheonho branch, Mokdong branch, Kintex branch, and Pangyo branch, will be closed.

At the Trade Center branch, where the first confirmed case was reported on the 4th, the total number of related confirmed cases has increased to 109, including 14 general visitors who are not employees. Hyundai Department Store initially planned to close the store only for two days on the 7th and 8th, but as additional confirmed cases surged, they decided to suspend operations until the scheduled regular closing day on the 12th. During this period, all 3,600 employees of the Trade Center branch will undergo COVID-19 testing at least twice.

A Hyundai Department Store official said, "During the temporary closure period, we are implementing thorough disinfection measures in consultation with health authorities. In particular, food court employees will be quarantined separately for two weeks regardless of their test results to ensure employee safety."

Shinsegae Department Store temporarily closed the Gyeonggi branch located in Jukjeon-dong, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the 11th after a clothing sales employee tested positive for COVID-19. Shinsegae Department Store branches in Seoul are scheduled to have their regular closing day on the 26th of July, so all will operate normally on the 12th.

At E-Mart Gayang branch, some employees in the frozen and refrigerated food section tested positive on the 10th, leading to the entire store suspending operations. The store remains temporarily closed on the 11th, the regular closing day, and on the 12th to strengthen COVID-19 disinfection measures.