"Minimizing Transmission in Churches and Hospitals... Overlooked Entertainment Venues Cause Chain Infections" (Update)

On the first weekend after the easing of social distancing measures, on the 26th, worshippers are heading to the main sanctuary at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul to attend service. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 20th, the government announced that while transmission has been minimized in places initially classified as high-risk facilities such as churches and medical institutions during the early outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), chain infections are occurring in entertainment facilities whose risk levels were underestimated.

Kim Kang-lip, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, "Looking at the transmission patterns so far, large-scale outbreaks have not appeared in places we were concerned about, such as churches and hospitals, whereas infections are spreading sequentially in clubs, singing practice rooms, and the like."

In fact, in Incheon, students infected by a private academy instructor who visited an Itaewon club unknowingly visited a church, but most of the church members tested negative. Except for five members awaiting test results, all church members received negative test results on the 15th. At Samsung Seoul Hospital, one nurse was confirmed positive on the 18th, and three fellow nurses tested positive, but no additional infection cases have occurred since then.

On the other hand, the cluster infection originating from the Itaewon clubs that began on the 7th has not subsided. As of this day, the number of confirmed cases related to the Itaewon clubs stands at 193, showing a steady upward curve.

Coordinator Kim said, "This suggests that in places where epidemiological investigation measures by quarantine authorities were smoothly carried out, additional spread could be quickly contained, whereas in cases where measures were delayed or difficult, it was hard to block transmission."

The government plans to promptly address the issues identified in this case. Coordinator Kim stated, "We will designate high-risk facilities separately according to risk levels and promote improvement plans for more systematic management."

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