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SEOUL: Coronavirus screening tests have increased in South Korea since authorities introduced anonymous tests, authorities said Wednesday (May 13), as they rushed to board a group of nightclubs amid concerns that prejudice against homosexuals could impede the response.
The country has presented itself as a global model on how to curb the virus, but a surge in new cases, fueled by the cluster in places in Seoul’s Itaewon district, including several gay clubs, forced authorities to delay the planned reopening of this week from schools. .
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Many nightclub patrons are believed to be reluctant to introduce themselves due to the stigma of being gay in the socially conservative country.
Seoul authorities began testing anonymously this week to address such concerns, and Mayor Park Won-soon said tests were conducted in the city on 8,300 people Tuesday, compared to about 1,000 a day last week. .
“This is proof that ensuring anonymity encourages voluntary testing,” Park told reporters.
READ: South Korea continues to roll back COVID-19 blockade despite nightclub outbreak
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Authorities are using mobile phone data to track visitors to nightclubs and will deploy police officers to track down those who cannot be contacted.
Officials in the East Asia nation of 52 million announced 26 new cases Wednesday, totaling 10,962, after posting single-digit increases for eight of the previous 14 days, many of them arriving abroad.
Seoul officials said that as of Wednesday morning, 119 cases across the country had been linked to the Itaewon group.
South Korea’s handling of the initial coronavirus outbreak was widely praised, and how it deals with this latest spike will be closely watched as parts of Europe begin a cautious reopening.
Health experts in Europe and the United States have warned that moving too fast could lead to an increase in the number of infections.
Human rights groups say intolerance towards gay people continues to be rampant in South Korea.
The deputy director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kwon Joon-wook, said this week that “prejudice and discrimination” only prevent prevention activities.
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