100 Confirmed Cases in One Day... Gwangju TCS International School Reports Highest Daily Cases in Gwangju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Gwangju Metropolitan City on February 3 last year, the largest-scale group infection has occurred.

Instead of the existing COVID-19 cluster site, TCS Ace International School (located in Buk-gu), 100 confirmed cases emerged at once at Gwangju TCS International School in Gwangsan-gu, another unauthorized educational facility related to the IM Mission.

According to Gwangju City on the 26th, as of 9:30 PM that day, 100 students, faculty, and church members of Gwangju TCS International School tested positive.

Among the 135 people related to Gwangju TCS International School who underwent full testing, 9 are still being tested, so additional confirmed cases may emerge. Gwangju TCS International School is operated by Hanmaeum Church in the same building, so church members were also included in the testing targets.

This educational facility, like TCS Ace International School, was revealed to have housed students and faculty from all over the country for missionary training. The quarantine authorities identified that among the total 122 people at the facility, 66 students came from other regions.

The quarantine authorities believe that the large-scale group infection occurred during the boarding life, which met all three conditions of the "3 Cs" (crowded, closed, close-contact).

The IM Mission, which is closely related to these educational facilities, is known to operate branches nationwide.

The IM Mission-related educational facilities in the Gwangju area include four locations: TCS Ace International School (Buk-gu, operated by Bitnaeri Church), Gwangju TCS International School (Gwangsan-gu, operated by Hanmaeum Church), Tikun TCS International School (Nam-gu, operated by Gwangmyeong Seohyeon Church), and Antioch Trinity CAS (Seo-gu, operated by Antioch Church).

The quarantine authorities plan to transfer most of the confirmed students at Gwangju TCS International School, many of whom are minors and residents of other regions, to nearby residential treatment centers.

Those who tested negative among the 26 people and the 9 still undergoing tests will be placed under separate quarantine measures.

The quarantine authorities requested that citizens who have visited any of the five unauthorized educational facilities related to the IMF Mission in the region this month get tested at the temporary screening clinic at Gwangju City Hall or at screening clinics in the five autonomous district health centers.