Seoul bars face second closure due to Covid-19

Bars and clubs in South Korea have been advised to close after 54 new Covid-19 cases were linked to clubs in Seoul’s Itaewon district.

Seoul’s on-trade has been advised to close after a fresh spike in Covid-19 cases

South Korea implemented its social distancing measures on 22 March and relaxed the rules on 6 May in favour of an ‘everyday life quarantine scheme’. The rules were adjusted after the number of daily confirmed cases dropped to single digits.

However, there has been a spike in new coronavirus cases linked to bars and nightclubs in the Itaewon district in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

As of 12pm on 10 May, the 53 cases believed to be related to the clubs included 43 as a direct result of visiting the club and 11 including family and co-workers.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said anyone who has visited clubs in the Itaewon district from the end of April to 6 May would be “likely to have been exposed to the virus”.

As such, the KCDC has advised any clubbers in the vicinity during this period to stay home and contact a local public health centre.

The KDCD also said: “According to the administrative order issued on 8 May, nightlife venues, such as clubs and bars, are advised to refrain from operation.”