[Q&A] "Seoul City to Crack Down on Weekly or More Visits to Shincheonji Church"

Emergency Administrative Order Banning Gatherings
188 of 263 Locations Forced to Close
Intensive Sunday Crackdown on Worship Services

The site where Shincheonji Jesus Church-related facilities have been closed (Provided by Seoul City)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in a regular briefing related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that it would issue an emergency administrative order banning Shincheonji Jesus Church gatherings throughout Seoul. Seoul has forcibly closed and completed disinfection of 188 out of 263 Shincheonji church sites. In addition, it announced plans to manage patients at Seoul Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital more strictly.

Na Baekju, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau, and Yoo Yeonsik, Director of the Culture Headquarters, conducted the related briefing. The following is a Q&A.

▲ Why were 66 Shincheonji-related sites unable to be confirmed?

= (Director Yoo Yeonsik, Culture Headquarters) Some were closed or nearby residents were unaware of them. Sometimes they are identified through inquiries, but in some cases, that was not possible. There have also been reports of damage from nearby Shincheonji churches.

▲ What measures are in place such as unannounced visits after the emergency administrative order?

= (Director Yoo) The Civil Affairs Police Unit and autonomous districts will form joint teams to inspect closed facilities. Although inspections will focus on Sundays when services are held, the frequency will be increased from once a week.

▲ Since movement paths rely on personal statements after receiving the list, is it necessary to conduct tests on everyone?

= (Na Baekju, Director of Citizen Health Bureau) If there are no symptoms, the probability of a negative result is high. Testing will be conducted carefully based on symptom presence.

▲ Some callers to 1399 were told to go to hospitals first and then to public health centers?is this correct?

= (Director Na) That guidance seems to have been incorrect. Seoul prioritizes directing people to screening clinics first.

▲ Has the infection route of patient number 161, the first confirmed case at Seoul Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, been identified? When is the cohort isolation considered to have started? Until when will the hospital remain closed?

= (Director Na) The route has not yet been identified. Further investigation is ongoing and contacts are being confirmed. Cohort isolation is generally implemented when there is transmission among patients within the hospital, but it is not considered to have reached that level yet. Nevertheless, single rooms are being used for patients and medical staff are being thoroughly monitored. The closure period will continue until there is confidence that there is no risk of further spread.

▲ Why do announcements differ among autonomous districts?

= (Director Na) Seoul reports based on the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention press releases. Autonomous districts will also provide transparent information. Using the Seoul Smart Map, detailed disinfection status can be viewed. This will be commonly utilized.

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