[Breaking] All 142 Close Contacts of Myeongseong Church Associate Pastor Test Negative

Gangdong-gu's on-site temporary screening clinic installed at Myeongseong Church conducted first COVID-19 tests on 142 people on the 26th, all negative... Results for the remaining 73 close contacts to be promptly released.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) announced on the 27th that among 215 primary close contacts at the on-site temporary screening clinic installed at Myeongseong Church, specimens were collected from 142 individuals on the 26th and all tested negative for infection.

The on-site temporary screening clinic was established at Myeongseong Church by Gangdong-gu after the church’s associate pastor was confirmed as a COVID-19 positive case on the 25th. The clinic aims to minimize the movement of those subject to testing and reduce the risk of infection among local residents.

The district plans to strictly manage the 142 individuals who tested negative by ensuring they maintain self-quarantine for 14 days.

Additionally, on the 27th, specimens will be promptly collected from the remaining 73 individuals and any newly identified testing subjects to minimize the risk of community transmission.

Initially, 348 close contacts were identified in the first investigation related to the COVID-19 positive associate pastor of Myeongseong Church. However, after a thorough epidemiological investigation and according to COVID-19 isolation criteria, the number of subjects was adjusted to 215.

Immediately after additional COVID-19 cases were confirmed on the 25th, the district’s public health center disinfection team, along with residents and staff, conducted extensive disinfection of the associate pastor’s residence, restaurants and hospitals visited by the confirmed case, the Myeongseong Church area, Myeongseong Market, and major and side roads in Myeongil-dong. At the same time, disinfection efforts will be further strengthened comprehensively at facilities frequently used by residents to ensure everyone’s safety.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “Testing of close contacts of the Myeongseong Church associate pastor is ongoing, and concerns about community spread of COVID-19 remain. We will maintain vigilance and continue to protect the frontline until this COVID-19 crisis is over.”

Gangdong-gu urges residents who visited Myeongseong Church between February 16 and 24 and are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever or cough to contact the Gangdong-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ dedicated call center for Myeongseong Church (COVID-19) at ☎3425-8570.

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