Investigation Team Led by Gukihyeop and Mokseonhyeop with Many Medical Professionals 'Announces Results'
"Only 23% of Confirmed Cases Within 24 Days of Center Visit Compared to Government Announcement"
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Regarding the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Christian missionary organization 'InterCP' BTJ World Center, the 'Christian Community Fact-Finding Investigation Team,' which includes many medical professionals, announced on the 19th that there are significant errors in the first infected persons' announcement by the government’s Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH).
Attention is drawn to this announcement by the Christian Community Fact-Finding Investigation Team, especially as the court hearing on InterCP’s suspension of the BTJ World Center, submitted last month, has been underway since the 15th.
The Christian Community Fact-Finding Investigation Team, mainly composed of the International Christian Countercult Council (ICCC) and the Korea Pastors Mission Council (KPMC), has been investigating the first infected individuals announced by the government to clarify their direct connection with the BTJ World Center.
The investigation team stated, "Among the approximately 250 first infected persons announced by the quarantine authorities, 77% had visited the BTJ World Center more than 24 days prior, so it cannot be concluded that the center was the direct cause," and identified about 50 people (23%) as the first infected who were directly involved.
This conclusion is based on medical standards that the average incubation period for COVID-19 symptoms to appear after infection is 5 days, and for symptomatic patients, 97.5% show symptoms within up to 11.5 days after infection.
The investigation team added, "The infectious period is on average 7 days after symptom onset, with a maximum of 10 days, and the CDCH also uses 10 days from the confirmation date as the quarantine release criterion," emphasizing, "Based on these standards, only 23% of the total confirmed first infected cases are related to the BTJ World Center within 24 days of visiting the center."
"In cases where more than 24 days have passed since visiting the BTJ World Center, even if PCR tests are positive, it should be considered unrelated."
The investigation team emphasized, "If there are no symptoms at the time of quarantine release, it is judged that there is no infectivity, so PCR (rapid gene amplification) tests are not re-administered," and added, "Even if PCR tests are positive after more than 24 days since visiting the BTJ World Center, it cannot be concluded that the cause is related to the visit."
They also claimed, "During the epidemiological investigation, if there was a statement that the person had visited the BTJ World Center, no proper investigation was conducted on other movement paths, and all were counted as BTJ World Center-related confirmed cases," and "It was even found that 12 confirmed cases who did not visit the BTJ World Center were included as first confirmed cases related to the center."
Furthermore, they added, "The investigation found that asymptomatic cases accounted for more than 50% of the total, and it is very unscientific to identify a positive PCR test after more than 24 days since visiting the BTJ World Center as an infection related to the center when there are no symptoms."
The investigation team concluded that among the total 2,500 visitors to the BTJ World Center in November and December, the first infected cases were not 250 but 57.5 (23% of the total), and the COVID-19 incidence rate originating from the BTJ World Center was 2.3%.
Even if including the 24% who cannot be definitively linked to the BTJ World Center, the number would be 117.5 (47% of the total), and at most, the incidence rate would be only 4.7%. According to the CDCH announcement, as of November 28, 2020, the nationwide positive rate among those tested was 4.1%.
The investigation team evaluated, "The gatherings at the BTJ World Center were legal meetings based on government quarantine guidelines and under the permission and supervision of Sangju City," and "The fact that the maximum incidence rate was only 2.3?4.7% is the result of the efforts of the BTJ World Center officials and Sangju City, representing a case where both freedom and quarantine efforts succeeded in a tug-of-war."
Meanwhile, Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters’ quarantine team, stated during a back briefing on the 1st, "In the case of churches, the density is low and prior quarantine measures have been implemented, so there has been almost no infection through in-person worship so far," and "If density is maintained and quarantine rules are followed, in-person worship itself is not considered a high-risk activity for infection."
The joint investigation team for this fact-finding investigation, conducted from the 26th of last month to recently, was led by Pastor Kim Jeong-man (head of ICCC) and Pastor Kim Chan-ho (representative of KPMC).
The investigation committee members included Pastors Kim Ju-yeon, Jo Hee-wan, and Jeon Tae (co-representatives of KPMC), Pastor Yoon Kwang-gu (executive chairman of ICCC), Park Jun-hyung (MD, Chilgok Central Clinic), Hwang Ji-hee (specialist, Immanuel Dermatology), Moon Eun-soo (MD, former Yonsei University professor), Choi Kyung-bok (specialist, medical missionary), Kim Mi-ok (MD, CEO of Global Health Reachout Foundation), Jeong Dong-seon (specialist, LA Shiloham Hospital), and lawyer Kwak Woo-rim.
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