Seoul City Issues Emergency Administrative Order to Fully Ban Shincheonji Gatherings

188 out of 263 Shincheonji Church Locations Sanitized
Complete Survey Planned After Receiving Member List
Self-Quarantine and Other Measures

Additional COVID-19 Case at Seoul Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital
Single Rooms for Patients and Staff Testing to Be Completed

Closure orders have been issued for all Shincheonji Church of Jesus-related facilities throughout Seoul. (Provided by Yeongdeungpo-gu)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is imposing a complete ban on Shincheonji Jesus Church gatherings.

On the 25th, Yoo Yeon-sik, Director of the Seoul Cultural Headquarters, stated at the regular briefing on the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), "Although we are forcibly closing facilities and conducting disinfection, due to the high risk of infection, we are issuing an emergency administrative order to completely ban Shincheonji gatherings throughout all areas of Seoul starting today."

Currently, Seoul has identified 263 locations related to Shincheonji churches and conducted on-site inspections. While 188 locations have been forcibly closed and disinfected, about 60 locations have yet to be confirmed as facilities.

Director Yoo said, "Once the central government sends the complete list of all Shincheonji followers to Seoul this afternoon, a thorough investigation will be conducted," adding, "If special measures are necessary, we will take actions such as testing and self-quarantine."

Following additional confirmed cases related to Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has formed a joint task force with the Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center and Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital. The task force includes infection control experts and specialists in underlying diseases.

Na Baek-ju, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau, said, "We conducted tests on 502 hospital patients, and 79 patients who had no contact with confirmed cases and tested negative have been discharged," adding, "We are expediting the one-patient-per-room policy for inpatients and plan to complete testing for all staff as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.