"Enclosed Spaces, Close Contact, Crowded Places: Beware of COVID-19 Anytime"… Kwon Jun-wook's Warning

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Regular Briefing
Pioneer Church Confirmed Cases 45ㆍGunpo Pastors' Meeting 15
Kwon Jun-wook Urges "Avoid Gatherings as Transmission Spreads Through Small Meetings and Events"

On the afternoon of the 2nd, as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads in the Incheon area, a somber atmosphere hangs over a church in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, where confirmed cases have been reported.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] COVID-19 patients linked to small gatherings and religious events at churches in the Seoul metropolitan area continue to steadily increase.

The COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported on the 2nd that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to pioneer churches in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Incheon, increased by 22 from the previous day, totaling 45. So far, infections have been reported in 23 churches. By region, Incheon accounts for 30 cases, Seoul 9, and Gyeonggi 6. This cluster infection has been occurring continuously since a female pastor in her 50s at a church in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, was confirmed positive on the 31st of last month.

In Gunpo and Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, confirmed cases related to a pastors' meeting at churches have also surged. This cluster infection increased by 6 from the previous day, with a total of 15 confirmed cases. Among them, 6 patients attended the meeting, 5 are family members, 2 are church members, and 2 are coworkers. The number of secondary and subsequent infections is rising, involving not only patients directly exposed to the infection source at the meeting but also those who spread the virus to others after being infected.

The cluster infection related to the University Student Mission also increased to a total of 9 after one family member of a pastor at Jesus Disciples Church in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was newly confirmed during contact tracing. Additionally, one resident in quarantine at the Happy Nursing Home in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, was newly confirmed, bringing the total confirmed cases there to 6. At the Bucheon Coupang Logistics Center, the number of confirmed cases increased by 5 during the same period, totaling 117. Among them, 74 are logistics center employees and 43 are contacts. Sporadic infections are emerging within various communities and local societies.

"In 'Three Cs' Facilities, When Vigilance Drops, Outbreaks Inevitably Occur at Weak Links"
Urging Avoidance of Gatherings, Transition to Non-Face-to-Face Meetings, and Compliance with Quarantine Rules

Regarding cluster infections related to churches, it has been reported that the spread occurred through small gatherings held individually outside the facilities, prompting health authorities to focus on cutting these links. Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the briefing, "Transmission is spreading mainly through church small meetings and religious events," and urged, "Please refrain from all gatherings, and if you must meet, switch to non-face-to-face meetings."

He added, "In the Seoul metropolitan area, please refrain from face-to-face meetings such as Bible study, prayer meetings, and retreats until the risk of infection decreases, and conduct them non-face-to-face. If in-person worship is unavoidable, maintain sufficient distance, reduce the number of participants, and check for fever and symptoms," he emphasized.

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the National Institute of Health)

While large churches hold weekend services in compliance with quarantine rules through local government inspections or their own facility management, small gatherings held separately are pointed out by health authorities and others as a 'blind spot' where such rules are not well observed. Especially for confirmed cases at pioneer churches, many were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, making it difficult to know the infection status, and continuous contact likely led to rapid spread in a short time.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "Our staff refer to areas where COVID-19 frequently occurs as 'Three Cs'?closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. When vigilance drops in these environments, outbreaks inevitably occur by finding weak links."

He continued, "In foreign countries as well, cluster outbreaks mostly occur in religious gatherings and facilities, as well as restaurants, entertainment venues, sports facilities, kindergartens and schools, exhibitions, markets, and various other places," and said, "It is not a specific facility or location that is the problem, but any environment with crowding, enclosed spaces, and close contact can lead to outbreaks."