[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] A cluster infection is spreading within a church in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.
On the 1st, four additional people tested positive for COVID-19 at Suwon Dongbu Church in Maetan 3-dong, Suwon, where four people including a pastor and church members had previously been confirmed positive.
Suwon City announced that a man in his 60s, A (resident of Jinan-dong, Hwaseong City, patient number 61), a woman in her 20s, B (resident of Maetan Jugong Green Ville Complex 6 apartment, Maetan 3-dong, Yeongtong-gu, patient number 62), a woman in her 60s, C (resident of Woncheon 1st Samsung Apartment, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, patient number 63), and a man in his 60s, D (patient number 64) tested positive for COVID-19.
These confirmed cases are known to be church members and related persons of Suwon Dongbu Church. The city believes the infections occurred within the church.
These four individuals tested positive during a full inspection of church-related persons conducted on the 31st, following the confirmation of the pastor (patient number 59) and three church members (patients 57, 58, and 60) between the 29th and 31st of last month.
With this, the total number of confirmed cases at Suwon Dongbu Church has increased to eight.
Patient A is asymptomatic, patient B developed fever and headache on the 29th of last month, patient C showed symptoms of sore throat on the 30th, and patient D's symptoms have not yet been confirmed.
Previously, at Suwon Dongbu Church, patient 57 (a woman in her 50s), who had contact with patient number 38 from Guro-gu, Seoul, who works at the Bucheon Coupang logistics center, was confirmed positive on the 29th of last month. Subsequently, her daughter, patient 58, the church pastor, patient 59, and church member patient 60 were confirmed positive on the 30th and 31st, respectively.
Patients 57 and 58 are known to have attended the Sunday service at Suwon Dongbu Church on the 24th of last month.
Suwon Dongbu Church has a total of about 300 members, of whom 273 attended the Sunday service on the 24th of last month, and 58 attended the Wednesday service on the 27th.
The city is conducting specimen tests on 276 church members, excluding 55 who attended multiple services.
A city official stated, "The cluster infection within the church is a very concerning situation," and added, "We will hold a non-face-to-face briefing at 3 p.m. today to explain the infection status and countermeasures."
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