After Two Pneumonia Tests Showed High Levels, Recommended to Visit a Major Hospital
No Symptoms Except Mild Fever, Living Normally... Shincheonji Leadership Rumors Also Untrue
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] "It was not me who refused treatment, but the public health center."
A, the 31st confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) (61-year-old female), expressed frustration throughout the phone interview. A tested positive for COVID-19 on the 18th and was admitted to a negative pressure isolation ward at Daegu Medical Center. In a call with a reporter on the 24th, she said, "At Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital, where I was hospitalized due to a traffic accident, pneumonia tests were conducted twice, and when the levels came out high, I was advised to 'go to a larger hospital.'" She added, "When I asked about the COVID-19 test method, they just told me to find out myself," recounting the situation at the time. This was to actively deny the view that the delay in COVID-19 diagnosis due to her refusal to be tested led to a large-scale outbreak.
She continued, "I asked my husband and acquaintances and inquired at Kyungpook National University Hospital and Suseong District Public Health Center, and when I went directly to Suseong District Public Health Center, they initially refused testing, saying it was just simple pneumonia symptoms," adding, "The claim that I refused testing three times is nonsense." She also denied reports by some media that she attended church and went around various places despite having COVID-19 symptoms such as chills, saying, "That is also not true," and added, "Other than a slight fever, I had no other symptoms."
A has been hospitalized for nearly a week and said that most symptoms have improved. She said she was never severely ill and now only has a cough. She had a slight fever but no chills. She tearfully said, "Seeing all kinds of groundless speculation, I can understand why celebrities sometimes take their own lives."
She also denied rumors that she held a key position at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji). She said, "Since I work, I am not in a position to hold any role, and I only recently started attending church," adding, "My Bible study level is beginner, and I am a simple believer who only donates 1,000 won at a time."
Meanwhile, Shincheonji issued a statement on the 23rd through its website, YouTube, and Facebook accounts, saying, "There have been continuous reports suggesting that the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is deliberately hiding this situation, raising concerns of intentional defamation," and requested, "Please stop speculative and unverified malicious reports."
Amid this, a national petition demanding the forced disbandment of Shincheonji also appeared. On the 22nd, a post titled "Petition for the forced disbandment (dissolution) of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (hereafter Shincheonji)" appeared on the Blue House National Petition website, gaining about 450,000 signatures within two days (as of 10 a.m. on the 24th).
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