Will Halloween serve as catalyst for massive COVID-19 infections?

Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in central Seoul, was crowded with people celebrating Halloween, Saturday. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

Concern is growing that Halloween celebrations held Saturday, could have sparked another round of mass COVID-19 outbreaks as popular areas in Seoul such as Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam were bustling with crowds despite the health authorities' continued warnings against potential virus transmissions.

The authorities are worried because the country experienced a surge in new daily infections in May that were traced to nightclubs in Itaewon.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Sunday, 277 infected people including 139 in Seoul, were tracked to the nightclubs after the first case was confirmed May 6.

The KDCA reported 124 new infections for Saturday, raising the total caseload to 26,635. Among the 124, the number of local cases stood at 101.

Amid continuous sporadic infection clusters reported at hospitals, nursing homes, saunas, schools and other places, the country's daily tally of new cases has been in triple digits for five consecutive days.

The authorities said this week would be crucial to determine the spread or slowdown of COVID-19, considering the virus' average incubation period of about five days.

While the authorities have maintained response readiness against potential COVID-19 transmission clusters during Halloween weekend, most major nightclubs in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam were closed in an effort to cooperate in the country's antivirus fight.

But young people, some wearing Halloween costumes, instead flocked to small clubs or bars in the areas to enjoy the weekend.

Clubs and bars are categorized as areas with a high risk of infection because they are usually bustling with crowds not wearing face masks.

The authorities are on high alert over the possibility that potential infection clusters caused by Halloween celebrations could result in another crisis in the antivirus fight when officials are making every effort to prevent a potential flu and coronavirus “twindemic” during winter.

“As November and December would offer the optimal environment for the spread of COVID-19, we should not lower our guard against the virus,” said Kwon Joon-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters.

As part of efforts to brace for the further prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the government announced Sunday that it would reform its social distancing system.

“We will subdivide the three-tier guidelines to respond to the virus situation more flexibly,” Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said during a briefing.

Under the new measures, Level 1 and Level 2 will each be subdivided into two so the social distancing system have five tiers.

“Level 1 is the lowest level, calling for basic distancing in people's daily lives,” Park said. “Level 1.5 and Level 2 will be issued when infections spread in certain areas, while Level 2.5 and Level 3 will be issued when infections spread nationwide.”

Park said the government would decide whether to raise or lower the distancing rules after considering the situation for critically ill patients in addition to daily new cases.