Incheon City Considers 2-Week 'Gathering Restriction Measures' for All Religious Facilities (Update)

On the morning of the 1st, when a cluster of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred in the Incheon area, a citizen is passing in front of a church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, where the cluster of confirmed cases emerged.
/Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Seulgi Kim] Incheon City announced that it is considering imposing a two-week gathering restriction on all religious facilities within the city.

In addition, the city plans to transition from 'everyday social distancing' to 'high-intensity social distancing' specifically for religious facilities.

If the gathering restriction is imposed, the application period will be from the afternoon of the 1st to the 14th, covering a total of 4,234 religious facilities, including 3,850 Christian churches, 112 Catholic churches, 189 Buddhist temples, and 83 others.

Incheon City plans to finalize the decision on the gathering restriction for religious facilities at a meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. that day.

If the measure is confirmed, religious facilities in Incheon must strictly adhere to quarantine rules, and violations may result in sanctions such as prohibition of gatherings, prosecution, and claims for damages under the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.'

On the 1st, Mayor Namchun Park posted on his Facebook, stating, "We will conduct special joint inspections with district and county offices to ensure compliance with quarantine rules in religious small group meetings."

Mayor Park explained, "A cluster infection occurred in churches. It was confirmed that the confirmed cases participated in Bible study meetings held on a rotation basis among newly established pioneering churches."

He added, "Cluster infections have occurred in religious small groups that were previously overlooked. We earnestly ask citizens to refrain from various gatherings, including religious small groups." He emphasized, "The next two weeks are the last line of defense to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Please focus more on complying with quarantine rules."

Meanwhile, on the 31st of last month, Pastor A (57, female, Incheon case number 209) of a church in Bupyeong District, Incheon, was confirmed positive for COVID-19.