[ad_1]
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, ordered the closure of all clubs and bars, after a flurry of new cases raised fear of a second wave of coronavirus, and President Moon Jae-in urged the public to remain on alert, it was reported this Sunday.
The nation has been seen as a global model on how to curb the virus and after a new outbreak In the Itaewon neighborhood, located in one of the city’s busiest nighttime districts, Seoul Mayor Park Won Soon issued the order to close some 2,100 businesses on Saturday.
At least 17 new cases were related to a 29-year-old man who tested positive after spending time at five clubs and bars in Itaewon last weekend. Health authorities have warned of a further increase in infections and so far only about 200 of the 1,500 people registered in attending these bars they have been located by the authorities.
“Neglect can lead to an explosion of infections,” said the mayor, adding that the order will remain in force indefinitely. Park asked those who visited those clubs and bars to report voluntarily to health authorities.
The leap in new infections comes as everyday life in South Korea slowly began to back to normal, with the government relaxing the rules of social distancing last Wednesday.
President Moon said Sunday that the new cases of contamination had “raised awareness that even during the stabilization phase, similar situations can arise again at any time.”
“This won’t be done until it’s really done,” Moon said during a speech for his third anniversary of taking office. “While maintaining alertness, we must never let our guard down regarding epidemic prevention,” he added.
The nation endured one of the worst early outbreaks of the disease outside mainland China, and although it never imposed a mandatory closure, strict social distancing has been widely observed since March. However, he appears to have controlled his outbreak thanks to a highly praised “trace, test, and treat” program.
Facilities such as museums and art galleries have been reopened and some professional sports, such as baseball and soccer, have started new seasons, while schools are set to reopen their doors starting next week.
South Korea reported 34 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 10,874, the largest daily increase in a month.
[ad_2]
