SEOUL, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government issued an administrative order to recommend entertainment spots, such as clubs and bars, to refrain from business on worry about a cluster infection of the COVID-19.
Yoon Tae-ho, an officer of disinfection at the Central Disaster Management headquarters, told a press briefing Friday that the administrative order will be effective for one month beginning 8:00 p.m. local time on Friday.
It came after a cluster infection was detected from a patient who visited clubs and bars at the popular multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon in Seoul over the weekend.
The 29-year-old man, who resides in Yongin city, Gyeonggi province, visited a total of five clubs and bars in Itaewon from Friday night to the early hours of Saturday last week. He tested positive for the virus and was admitted to a hospital on Wednesday morning.
A friend of the patient, who went to Itaewon together, also tested positive for the COVID-19.
In addition, 13 more cases linked to the Yongin patient were confirmed positive for the virus since 0:00 a.m. Friday local time, Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip told a press briefing.
The 13 cases included the Yongin patient's co-worker, three foreign nationals, and one army officer.
At least 1,500 people were estimated to have visited the clubs and bars, to which the Yongin patient went.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has announced its official tally over the COVID-19 at 10:00 a.m. local time compared with 24 hours ago. It was unusual for the vice health minister to unveil additional tally.
South Korea reported 12 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Friday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,822. Enditem
