Authorities: "Patient 31 Likely Secondary Infection, Not Super-Spreader" (Update)

The view of Shincheonji Daegu Church in Daemyeong-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu City
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated on the 20th that regarding the 31st domestic patient of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) (born in 1959, Korean female), "We are conducting an investigation with a focus on the possibility that she is a secondary infected person."

Director Jung made this remark during a regular briefing on the domestic COVID-19 situation in the afternoon, in response to a question asking, "Do you consider this patient a super-spreader?"

Director Jung explained, "The onset date of the 31st patient is estimated to be around the 7th or 10th," adding, "When drawing an epidemic curve based on the onset dates of confirmed cases related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church, there are some patients on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, and a very large peak on the 15th, 16th, and 17th."

She further stated, "Since there are several patients who developed symptoms around the same time, it is difficult to consider the 31st patient as the initial patient," and added, "These individuals were exposed together somewhere, and we are investigating under the assumption that secondary amplification or secondary infection occurred through worship services on the 9th and 16th."

Director Jung said, "Only after investigation can we determine whether the 31st patient was the primary source of infection or if someone else infected her," and added, "Currently, the assessment leans toward the possibility that the 31st patient is also a secondary infected person."

The 31st patient is the first confirmed case in the Yeongnam region, reported on the 18th. According to epidemiological investigations by the quarantine authorities, this patient has come into contact with 1,160 people so far. As 38 related confirmed cases occurred on the 19th and 20th at the Shincheonji Jesus Church and medical institutions she visited, suspicions arose that she might be a 'super-spreader' who infected multiple people at once.

The quarantine authorities are currently conducting a full investigation of 1,001 people who attended worship services at the Shincheonji Daegu Church at the same time as the 31st patient and have placed all of them under self-quarantine. Additionally, they are working to obtain the list of all 8,000 members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church.