Flaws Revealed in Tracking Movement Based on Testimonies of Shincheonji Followers

COVID-19 Confirmed Patient Later Found to Have Visited Three Additional Dong Community Centers in Seodaemun-gu on the Same Day Besides Gajwa Health Center and Bukgajwa 1-dong Resident Center... Moon Seok-jin, Seodaemun-gu Mayor, Says "Seodaemun-gu Should Use This Case as a Lesson to Prevent Similar Gaps from Recurring in Other Districts"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] It has been confirmed that COVID-19 patient number 111, who was announced to have visited Gajwa Health Center and Bukgajwa 1-dong Community Service Center (100-55 Susaek-ro) in Seodaemun-gu on the 19th, had also visited three other community service centers within Seodaemun-gu on the same day prior to those visits.

The additional visited locations were identified as Bukgajwa 2-dong, Namgajwa 2-dong, and Hong Eun 2-dong Community Service Centers.

Patient number 111 is a Shincheonji member residing in Daegu Metropolitan City and was confirmed positive on the 20th through a visit to the Mapo-gu Health Center screening clinic, the day after visiting Gajwa Health Center and Bukgajwa 1-dong Community Service Center.

During the epidemiological investigation conducted by Seoul City on the 21st, the patient stated that he only visited Gajwa Health Center and Bukgajwa 1-dong Community Service Center for credit card sales and had contact with staff there.

Accordingly, Seodaemun-gu closed these two institutions for two days on the 22nd and 23rd, conducted disinfection, and placed employees classified as close contacts under self-quarantine until March 4th.

Seodaemun-gu judged that patient number 111 might have visited other locations for credit card sales and confirmed with all community service centers whether similar credit card sales activities occurred on the same day as at Bukgajwa 1-dong.

Additionally, based on estimated travel times and the patient’s appearance, CCTV footage from each community service center was thoroughly analyzed to further trace the patient’s movements.

Through this process, the district confirmed that the patient’s initial statement was false, as revealed by a companion of the confirmed patient.

Seodaemun-gu conducted disinfection of all community service centers in the area along with Gajwa Health Center and Bukgajwa 1-dong Community Service Center, and after this fact was uncovered, additional disinfection was carried out at Bukgajwa 2-dong, Namgajwa 2-dong, and Hong Eun 2-dong Community Service Centers.

As seven days have passed since contact, no abnormal symptoms have appeared among employees at the three community service centers, but some employees will be subject to self-quarantine measures according to Seoul City’s epidemiological investigation.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, stated, “Although this information was revealed late due to the patient’s false statement, we are actively disclosing the facts not only in the interest of residents’ right to know but also to use this case in Seodaemun-gu as a lesson to prevent similar loopholes in other districts, and to urge caution regarding salespeople entering government offices.”

Furthermore, Mayor Moon emphasized, “It is very regrettable that the disclosure of movement paths is delayed because local governments lack epidemiological investigation authority amid the nationwide increase in confirmed cases. It is necessary to delegate epidemiological investigation authority to local governments so that each municipality can identify details and respond promptly.”

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