Authorities: "About 70 from Guro Manmin Church Attend 20th Anniversary Event in Muan" (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Regular Briefing
"7 Confirmed Cases at Guro Manmin Central Church…Church Member Who Attended Muan 20th Anniversary Event Tests Positive"

On the morning of the 28th, church members are undergoing COVID-19 diagnostic tests at a temporary screening clinic in front of Manmin Central Church in Guro-gu, Seoul.
Guro District Office temporarily closed the church on the 27th after a series of confirmed cases related to Manmin Central Church, and plans to adjust the closure period based on the test results.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] It has been identified that about 70 members of Manmin Central Church in Guro-gu, Seoul, where multiple confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were reported, attended the church's 20th anniversary event held earlier this month in Muan, Jeollanam-do. A church member from Guro-gu tested positive after attending the Muan event. The quarantine authorities have determined that the timing of confirmed cases related to the Muan church and the Guro-gu church patients in Seoul is similar so far.

At the briefing, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "The index patient of (Guro Manmin Central Church) was confirmed positive on the 25th, and subsequently, family members, colleagues, and church members were additionally confirmed positive." According to the quarantine authorities, as of this day, a total of seven patients related to Manmin Central Church in Seoul have been confirmed: four from the church and three family members or contacts.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "(The church) has conducted online worship services, but further confirmation is needed," adding, "It has been confirmed that about 70 members of Guro Manmin Central Church in Seoul attended the 20th anniversary event of Manmin Central Church in Muan on the 5th." It was also confirmed that the sixth patient from Guro Manmin Church attended the event.

Mannmin Central Church, Guro-gu, Seoul

Although it is not yet at the stage to definitively determine the specific infection route, it is understood that the possibility of infection through the event is being considered in the investigation. At Muan Manmin Central Church, a couple among the members was confirmed positive, and it is reported that the symptom onset timing of these patients and the Guro church patients is similar.

Deputy Director Kwon stated, "Regarding Guro and Muan Manmin Central Churches, further epidemiological investigations are underway, and there is a possibility of transmission through other contacts at church or workplace," adding, "We are conducting thorough investigations and making efforts to block further spread."

Guro-gu closed the church the previous day as confirmed cases continued to emerge from the church and conducted diagnostic tests on about 200 people, including church members and contacts.