Seoul City Imposes Gathering Restrictions on All Religious Facilities... "7,560 Facilities for 2 Weeks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Seoul City announced on the 14th that it will issue an administrative order restricting gatherings at all 7,560 religious facilities in the city for two weeks from the 15th to the 30th.

The targeted facilities include 6,989 churches, 286 temples, 232 cathedrals, and 53 Won Buddhism temples.

At these facilities, all face-to-face meetings or events under the name of the religious facility, food provision, and group meals are prohibited except for regular worship services. During regular worship, singing hymns should be refrained from, and loud group prayers are prohibited.

Seoul City plans to conduct on-site inspections of churches and others this weekend. Failure to comply with the order may result in prosecution. Additionally, 4,053 members and visitors of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, where a large-scale cluster infection recently occurred, have been ordered to self-quarantine and undergo testing. They may also face prosecution if they violate the order.

Until now, religious facilities in Seoul had been under a "recommendation to comply with quarantine rules" since June 3.

The city explained that it is strengthening measures because many cases of COVID-19 transmission starting from churches in the metropolitan area have led to secondary infections.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, said, "The holiday from the 15th to the 17th is a critical turning point that will determine the second wave," and added, "We hope all citizens cooperate with a sense of solidarity."

Meanwhile, 58 new confirmed cases occurred in Seoul on the same day, including 18 related to Sarang Jeil Church. This is the highest number of daily confirmed cases ever recorded in Seoul.