South Korea checks credit card transactions after a bar outbreak

South Korea is considered a successful model for controlling the Covid-19 epidemic, registering 10,991 Covid-19 cases and only 260 deaths, a relatively low number compared to many countries.

South Korean health officials recently reported at least 119 new cases of Covid-19, including 11 cases under the age of 19, related to night spots.

One of the measures that South Korean authorities have used to locate Covid-19 patients is to verify the credit card transactions of people involved in the Itaewon night neighborhood in Seoul, where a Covid-19 patient has infected more than 100 people.

Teachers expressed concern about personal privacy after schools collected information on credit card transactions to investigate whether they were involved in the Itaewon “outbreak.”

SCMP According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, Korea said 158 teachers in Seoul, including 53 foreigners, have visited Itaewon and other entertainment districts during a long holiday of 29 / 4-6 / 5.

In addition, many foreign teachers from other cities, including 20 from Busan, also visited Itaewon during the holidays.

A new outbreak in the Itaewon “outbreak” on 11/5 caused parents to fear that their children might be infected by young teachers, especially foreign teachers. Korean authorities have also postponed the reopening of the school until after May 20.

On social media, both Korean teachers and foreigners who teach English in private language schools and schools complained that the school asked them to give details of their delivery. translating credit cards to confirm that they did not come to Itaewon earlier this month. They claim that the Korean government is violating the right to privacy of personal information.

Furthermore, since many establishments in Itaewon are essentially gay bars, there is also a concern that people who come to play may be discriminated against if their identity is revealed.

To address this concern, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun promised that the test would be done anonymously and that his personal identity would not be revealed.

“Even if people test positive for the virus, we will remove detailed personal data and disclose minimal information about their contact trails,” Chung said.

But at least one Facebook user on a Korean gay site said this was not the case. He said that the result of his test had been sent to the school he taught even before receiving it.

Tracking thanks to mobile data

South Korean Deputy Minister of Health Kim Gang-lip said for now, officials will continue to trace trails, positive trials and social spaces that helped the country curb the Covid-19 epidemic earlier. the number of new infections per day remains below 50 and officials can still track 95% of infections

The Korea Centers for Disease Control (KCDC) said it is still working hard to find 2,000 of the 5,517 people who have visited nine clubs and nightclubs in Itaewon. In particular, secure credit card transactions will help identify about 1,800 people.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-Soon said that, thanks to cooperation with the network, the government has a list of more than 10,000 mobile users, including 1,200 foreigners, who have been in Itaewon for 30 minutes or more during the holidays. . It lasted long. These people have received test guide messages in English and Korean.

KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong also said the agency was conducting epidemiological surveys in areas other than Itaewon, including two popular well-known bars in Hongdae and Sinchon, Seoul.

The government of the city of Incheon, west of Seoul, recently warned that it would file a criminal lawsuit with an infected Korean teacher who lied about his workplace and infected eight others, including students and parents.

“If there are cases that continue to provide inaccurate information, the government will not be able to take proactive measures. We will not be able to prevent the disease from spreading, and our entire society will again be in danger, “Deputy Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said on May 13.

ha Phuong

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