Two Additional COVID-19 Cases Confirmed in Gwangju... Concerns Over Community Spread

Attendance at Sunday Worship Despite Suspension Recommendation...Criticism for Provoking Group Infection Concerns

Health Authorities Urge Citizens' Voluntary Participation, Including Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop is giving a briefing related to COVID-19. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Amid government and religious circles recommending the suspension of weekend worship services to prevent the spread of ‘COVID-19,’ it has been confirmed that a confirmed patient visited a church in the Gwangju area.

Concerns about the spread of group infections in the local community are growing as anxiety rises even among general religious groups, not just ‘Shincheonji.’

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City and health authorities on the 2nd, A (48, female) living in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, and her son B (21) were confirmed positive the day before.

This is one week after the 9th confirmed case in the region was reported on the 23rd of last month.

They are Protestant church members, not Shincheonji followers, and are known not to have visited Daegu, making it difficult to identify the infection route and increasing concerns about community spread.

As far as is known, although the mother and son did not visit Daegu, the infection route has not been confirmed except that B had traveled to Europe, spreading concern in the local community.

Moreover, despite recommendations to suspend religious worship attendance, it is known that they attended Sunday worship, prompting health authorities to closely monitor transmission among congregants. Approximately 200 to 250 people attended the service at that time.

Earlier, the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju, for the first time since the establishment of the Gwangju Diocese in 1937, canceled all Sunday Masses on the 23rd of last month and the 1st of this month, replacing them with online services, setting a good precedent in response to government and local government recommendations.

Protestant churches also joined this effort, with some churches completely suspending worship services and replacing them online, while others reduced Sunday worship to once or suspended gatherings.

Although the government and religious circles recommend suspending worship services until the spread of ‘COVID-19’ subsides, some religious groups continue to hold holiday worship services, raising criticism that this increases the possibility of group infections.

A citizen, Jeong (33), said, “Religion is important, but holding group events at a time when the national crisis alert has been raised to the highest level, ‘serious,’ is unreasonable. Everyone should be cautious during this time and recognize the seriousness.”

A health center official in Gwangju stated, “The government and health authorities are making all-out efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it is difficult without the help of citizens,” adding, “It is a time when voluntary participation is needed, with all citizens understanding and following the government’s prevention guidelines.”

Meanwhile, on the same day, Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju strongly requested the Christian Council to “completely suspend Protestant worship services.”

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