COVID-19 Cases Found Among Groups Using Religious Facilities

On the 12th, at Dong Seoul Terminal in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, quarantine officials from Gwangjin-gu and soldiers from the Army Capital Defense Command are conducting disinfection work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) linked to religious facilities have also appeared in the military.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 14th, Civilian employee A working at the Seongnam Air Force Base and Marine soldier B from Baengnyeongdo (6th Brigade) tested positive for COVID-19.

In A’s case, it is known that they visited Yongin Woori Jeil Church, where a cluster infection occurred, and B visited Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu while on leave in Seoul. The military authorities are conducting COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on about 50 close contacts identified from A. Soldier B was on leave, so the military reported that there were no contacts within the unit.

With additional confirmed cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the military has increased to 82. Among them, 77 have recovered, and 5 are receiving treatment. The total number of people in military quarantine, including those under the military’s own preventive quarantine standards, is 1,205.