South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;is testing a new quick response (QR)&nbsp;code&nbsp;system this week to log visitors at high-risk entertainment facilities, restaurants and churches in a bid to track coronavirus cases and prevent further spread of the disease.

The decision to mandate&nbsp;QR&nbsp;codes to register visitors' identities came after authorities struggled to trace people who had visited a number of nightclubs and bars at the centre of a virus outbreak last month after much of the information on handwritten visitor logs was found to be false or incomplete.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-approves-emergency-use-of-remdesivir-to-treat-covid-19-302807" hreflang="en">South Korea approves emergency use of Remdesivir to treat COVID-19</a>

Starting June 10, visitors to nightclubs, bars, karaoke clubs, daytime discos, indoor gyms that hold group exercises, and indoor standing concert halls, will be required to use any of a number of commercially available apps to generate a one-time, personalized&nbsp;QR&nbsp;code&nbsp;that can be scanned at the door.

Local governments may also designate other high-risk facilities such as libraries, hospitals, restaurants or churches.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-closes-bars-and-clubs-fears-second-wave-of-covid-19-297461">South Korea closes bars and clubs; fears second wave of COVID-19</a>

The person's information will be logged in a database kept by the Social Security Information Service for four weeks, before it is automatically deleted, according to&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Ahead of the rollout of the new system, the ministry is testing the system at 17 facilities, including entertainment spots, churches, libraries, restaurants and a hospital.

Some local governments have already implemented similar&nbsp;QR&nbsp;requirements after the nightclub outbreak, which led to at least 270 cases and raised fears of a second wave of infections.

South Korea is testing a new quick response (QR) code system this week to log visitors at high-risk entertainment facilities, restaurants and churches in a bid to track coronavirus cases and prevent further spread of the disease.

South Korea is testing a new quick response (QR) code system this week to log visitors at high-risk entertainment facilities, restaurants and churches in a bid to track coronavirus cases and prevent further spread of the disease. The decision to mandate QR codes to register visitors' identities came after authorities struggled to trace people who had visited a number of nightclubs and bars at the centre of a virus outbreak last month after much of the information on handwritten visitor logs was found to be false or incomplete. Also read: South Korea approves emergency use of Remdesivir to treat COVID-19 Starting June 10, visitors to nightclubs, bars, karaoke clubs, daytime discos, indoor gyms that hold group exercises, and indoor standing concert halls, will be required to use any of a number of commercially available apps to generate a one-time, personalized QR code that can be scanned at the door. Local governments may also designate other high-risk facilities such as libraries, hospitals, restaurants or churches. Also read: South Korea closes bars and clubs; fears second wave of COVID-19 The person's information will be logged in a database kept by the Social Security Information Service for four weeks, before it is automatically deleted, according to South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. Ahead of the rollout of the new system, the ministry is testing the system at 17 facilities, including entertainment spots, churches, libraries, restaurants and a hospital. Some local governments have already implemented similar QR requirements after the nightclub outbreak, which led to at least 270 cases and raised fears of a second wave of infections.

South Korea mandates QR codes to log customers after nightclub coronavirus outbreak

South Korea reported 40 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking the biggest daily spike in 49 days as millions of children go back to school and authorities fight to contain an outbreak stemming from a stretched e-commerce warehouse.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 40 new cases as of midnight on Tuesday, bringing the country's total number to 11,265. A day earlier the country recorded 19 new cases.

So far, at least 36 cases have been linked to an outbreak at the logistics centre operated by SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, the KCDC said. It was not immediately clear how many of the cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

About 3,600 people at the facility are being tested. The company said it closed the centre on Monday and began the strongest disinfection measures recommended by authorities.

Coupang benefited from the contactless trend driven by COVID-19 in South Korea, with orders surging for groceries and other products. The logistics centre opened in early March and is in charge of deliveries to western Seoul, a spokeswoman said.

The first case related to the centre was diagnosed on Saturday, and is suspected to be connected with a Seoul nightclub outbreak earlier this month.

South Korea reported 40 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking the biggest daily spike in 49 days as millions of children go back to school and authorities fight to contain an outbreak stemming from a stretched e-commerce warehouse.

South Korea reported 40 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking the biggest daily spike in 49 days as millions of children go back to school and authorities fight to contain an outbreak stemming from a stretched e-commerce warehouse. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 40 new cases as of midnight on Tuesday, bringing the country's total number to 11,265. A day earlier the country recorded 19 new cases. So far, at least 36 cases have been linked to an outbreak at the logistics centre operated by SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, the KCDC said. It was not immediately clear how many of the cases were reported in the last 24 hours. About 3,600 people at the facility are being tested. The company said it closed the centre on Monday and began the strongest disinfection measures recommended by authorities. Coupang benefited from the contactless trend driven by COVID-19 in South Korea, with orders surging for groceries and other products. The logistics centre opened in early March and is in charge of deliveries to western Seoul, a spokeswoman said. The first case related to the centre was diagnosed on Saturday, and is suspected to be connected with a Seoul nightclub outbreak earlier this month.

South Korea: Authorities trace spike in new cases to an e-commerce warehouse

Expats, teachers in South Korea are being closely watched in South Korea after the nightclub coronavirus outbreak in Seoul’s Itaewon district has worsened.

Efforts of the country's government to test thousands of people and trace the source of the infection is being heavily criticised on social media by&nbsp;expatriate teachers who claim that their right to privacy is being breached.

Foreigners teaching in&nbsp;South Korean schools complained their employers were asking them to surrender their credit card details to confirm they were not among the partygoers in Itaewon at the start of this month.

Teachers, including foreigners who teach English at schools or private language institutes, have come under scrutiny after the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said 158 people working at schools in the capital, including 53 foreigners, had reported to authorities that they visited Itaewon and other entertainment districts during the April 29-May 6 period when there was a long weekend.

Scores of other foreigners working at schools in other provincial cities, including 20 in the second-largest city of Busan, also visited Itaewon during the period, it said.

Health authorities said as of Thursday, at least 20 cases of Covid-19 were linked to the nightspots, and 133 more were linked to that outbreak.

More than 22,000 people have been tested since the cluster emerged including 1,200 foreigners, with authorities using mobile phone data to identify and locate them.

Expats, teachers in South Korea are being closely watched in South Korea after the nightclub coronavirus outbreak in Seoul’s Itaewon district has worsened. Efforts of the country's government to test thousands of people and trace the source of the infection is being heavily criticised on social media by expatriate teachers who claim that their right to privacy is being breached.

Expats, teachers in South Korea are being closely watched in South Korea after the nightclub coronavirus outbreak in Seoul’s Itaewon district has worsened. Efforts of the country's government to test thousands of people and trace the source of the infection is being heavily criticised on social media by expatriate teachers who claim that their right to privacy is being breached. Foreigners teaching in South Korean schools complained their employers were asking them to surrender their credit card details to confirm they were not among the partygoers in Itaewon at the start of this month. Teachers, including foreigners who teach English at schools or private language institutes, have come under scrutiny after the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said 158 people working at schools in the capital, including 53 foreigners, had reported to authorities that they visited Itaewon and other entertainment districts during the April 29-May 6 period when there was a long weekend. Scores of other foreigners working at schools in other provincial cities, including 20 in the second-largest city of Busan, also visited Itaewon during the period, it said. Health authorities said as of Thursday, at least 20 cases of Covid-19 were linked to the nightspots, and 133 more were linked to that outbreak. More than 22,000 people have been tested since the cluster emerged including 1,200 foreigners, with authorities using mobile phone data to identify and locate them.

South Korean expats, teachers under intense scrutiny after nightclub outbreak worsens