A cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred at Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province has exceeded 70, with infections rapidly increasing mainly in churches in the Seoul metropolitan area. The number of 'unknown source patients' whose exact infection source cannot be identified is also on the rise, causing health authorities to be on high alert for a possible recurrence of another Shincheonji Jesus Church incident.
The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 14th at 12 noon that, as a result of testing church members and contacts of existing confirmed cases in the Woori Jeil Church cluster infection case, 60 additional people tested positive, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 72. Of these, 70 are related to the church, and 2 are additional transmission cases caused by them. This is an increase from 12 cases the previous day, with 58 church members and 2 acquaintances newly confirmed positive within a day.
The CDCH reported that epidemiological investigations revealed risky behaviors for COVID-19 transmission at the church, such as singing without adequate mask-wearing.
In Seoul's Seongbuk District, 14 additional confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church were identified by noon on the same day, increasing the total to 19. The CDCH stated, "It has been confirmed that the confirmed cases visited the church and attended worship services during the period when COVID-19 transmission could have occurred, so there is a high possibility of additional cases. We have requested all church members and visitors who visited the church from August 7 to 13 to undergo testing."
Additionally, one more person in quarantine related to Gippeum 153 Church in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province tested positive, raising the cumulative confirmed cases to 24. The proportion of unknown source patients exceeded 13%. Among the 568 new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported to health authorities over the past two weeks since the 1st, 78 cases are still under investigation for their infection routes, accounting for 13.7% of new cases.
Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, expressed concern, saying, "Asymptomatic and mild infections are sporadically continuing, causing cluster outbreaks through churches, multi-level marketing visits, and small gatherings, and these infections are spreading to schools, daycare centers, workplaces, and markets. With school vacations, holidays starting tomorrow (the 15th), and urban rallies, if these lead to large-scale amplification, it could spread nationwide, which is a critical situation." She urged, "Please refrain from attending religious events and the large-scale Gwangbokjeol rallies during the holiday period, as there is concern about the spread of infections."
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