South Korea tests 35,000 people linked to club coronavirus cluster

Authorities use technology and police officers to help identify potential victims

20200514 testing in Seoul

A medic takes test samples for the coronavirus from a visitor at a testing station in the nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul on Tuesday. © AFP/Jiji

KIM JAEWON, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- South Korea is aggressively testing and tracing thousands of people who went to nightclubs in central Seoul, in a bid to prevent an explosion of infections from a new coronavirus cluster.

Health authorities said Wednesday they were confirming the identity of the clubbers in the nightlife district of Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. They are reviewing guest books and credit-card payments at venues, and asking telecom companies to provide location information of people who are suspected of being infected.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.