Confirmed Case of Chungju Sincheonji Believer is a 'Reporter'... Epidemiological Investigation Alert (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Koh Hyung-kwang] The occupation of a man in his 30s living in Chungju City, who was the first Shincheonji Church member in Chungbuk Province to be confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been revealed as a 'reporter,' causing the quarantine authorities conducting the epidemiological investigation to be on high alert. Considering the nature of his job, which involves frequent meetings with others, the quarantine authorities are putting all their efforts into setting the investigation period and identifying contacts.

According to the quarantine authorities on the 18th, A (30), who was confirmed positive on the same day, stated during the epidemiological investigation that he first experienced abnormal symptoms such as a sore throat on the 9th. Based on this, the authorities began tracing A's movements from the 8th.

A stated that he stayed at home all day on the 8th. On the 9th, when the sore throat symptoms appeared, he visited a pharmacy and a supermarket in Chilgeum-dong between 1:30 PM and 2:10 PM before returning home.

On the 10th, he attended a COVID-19 briefing held in the Chungju City Hall briefing room, presided over by Mayor Jo Gil-hyeong of Chungju. On the 11th, around 8:30 AM, A visited a hospital and a pharmacy, and around 10 AM, he returned to the Chungju City Hall briefing room to attend a press conference for a National Assembly candidate’s pledge announcement.

The next day, the 12th, around 10 AM, he filmed a video related to the National Assembly candidate at the Chungju City Election Commission. On the 13th, he visited a self-service gas station in Wonju, Gangwon Province in the morning, and then stayed at home until the 15th. Two days prior, on the 16th, it was confirmed that he briefly visited a traditional market and a supermarket near his home, and on the morning of the 17th, he underwent diagnostic testing at Konkuk University Chungju Hospital.

According to closed-circuit television (CCTV) verification, all contacts at the hospital, pharmacy, supermarket, and traditional market visited by A wore masks except for one identified contact. The quarantine authorities placed the identified close contact under self-quarantine and thoroughly disinfected the facilities. However, at the Chungju City Election Commission on the 12th, 12 people, including election commission staff and candidate-related personnel, were classified as close contacts and placed under self-quarantine.

Also, during the COVID-19 briefing at Chungju City Hall on the 10th, all city hall and media personnel wore masks, but it was revealed that some did not properly wear masks during the candidate’s press conference on the 11th, prompting further investigation.

The quarantine authorities have indefinitely closed the Chungju City Hall briefing room, where close contacts may have occurred, and recommended COVID-19 testing for reporters entering the facility. It is known that A was also responsible for nearby Jecheon City and Danyang County. Accordingly, the two local governments closed their press rooms and conducted disinfection on the same afternoon.

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