Two Additional Church Members Confirmed COVID-19 After Contact with Pastor Returning from Jeju Trip (Update)

A Total of 11 Confirmed Cases Related to Churches in Anyang and Gunpo Areas as of Morning of 1st

The screening clinic at Gunpo City Public Health Center / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Two additional church members who came into contact with a pastor, confirmed positive for COVID-19 after a group trip to Jeju Island, have also tested positive for the virus. As of 12 PM today, the total number of confirmed cases related to the church in the Anyang and Gunpo areas who traveled to Jeju has reached 11.

Gunpo City in Gyeonggi Province announced that Mr. A (30, male), residing in Geumjeong-dong, has been confirmed as the 42nd patient in the area. Mr. B (60, male), living in Gungnae-dong, was also confirmed as the 43rd patient in the district.

Both individuals have been identified as members of Eunhye Sinil Church. It is presumed that Mr. A and Mr. B were infected through contact with the 40th patient, the pastor of this church, on the 28th to 29th and the 28th of last month, respectively.

After the 40th patient was confirmed positive, both individuals underwent COVID-19 testing on the 31st of last month and have been in self-quarantine since then.

Previously, the pastor of this church and his wife (the 41st patient) traveled to Jeju Island from the 25th to the 27th of last month with 23 pastors and church members from 12 churches in the Anyang and Gunpo areas, and were confirmed positive on the 31st of the same month.

Among the 17 participants from 9 churches in Gunpo who joined the Jeju trip, four people, including the spouse of the pastor of Sae-eonyak Church in Gunpo 1-dong (the 38th patient) and the spouse of the pastor of Changdaehan Church in Sanbon 1-dong (the 39th patient), were confirmed positive last month.

Of these, 13 tested negative in specimen tests and have been placed under a two-week self-quarantine order. Additionally, among 27 members of Eunhye Sinil Church, Sae-eonyak Church, and Changdaehan Church who had contact with confirmed patients, 25 have tested negative.