Major cluster infections tied to traditional markets

Vegetables lie scattered in front of Mapo District Office in Seoul, Oct. 9, thrown away by merchants at Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market in protest of the office's order to shut down the market after over 90 COVID-19 cases were found to be linked to it. Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

Several traditional markets in Seoul have emerged as hotbeds of COVID-19 infections in recent months, raising concerns among merchants and visitors.

Since July, four traditional markets in the capital have been linked to major outbreaks, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Of them, the largest number of related cases was reported at Garak Market in southern Seoul's Songpa District. As of Sunday, 840 patients have been traced to the market since a worker there first tested positive on Aug. 31. The infections were transmitted among the workers, visitors, their families and acquaintances.

A total of 51 cases were linked to Cheongnyangni Market in Dongdaemun District after the first case was detected there on Aug. 30, while Jungbu Market in central Seoul has faced 320 cases since Sept. 13.

Most recently, 90 cases have been linked to the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market in Mapo District since the first case was reported on Sept. 25.

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The number of infections linked to these markets may increase further as epidemiological investigations are still underway.

The public health authorities attributed the outbreaks at traditional markets to several factors, including the poor management of visitor entry logs.

While customers are required to scan QR codes or write down their contact information upon entering other facilities, such as eateries, cafes and big supermarkets, traditional markets have remained exempt from this requirement.

The exemption has made it difficult for quarantine officials to trace the whereabouts and contacts of people who have tested positive for the virus, resulting in further transmissions.

The KDCA also pointed out that there is poor ventilation in the markets, and that infections may have spread easily between workers who share toilets, smoking areas and shower rooms.

In order to prevent further spread of the virus, the Mapo District Office has ordered Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market to shut down, provoking a backlash from the merchants.

The market had initially been closed for three days from Oct. 6 to 8 for disinfection, but following the discovery of further infections, the district office has ordered the market to stay closed indefinitely, saying that it will make the decision to reopen it depending on whether the number of infection cases rises.

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