Confirmed Student's Father at Eunpyeong Yeoneun Elementary Suspected Contact with Uijeongbu Pastor (Update)

Confirmed Student Uses Emergency Care Classroom
Student's Father Visited Restaurant in Uijeongbu at Same Time as Pastor on 18th

On the 15th, citizens are entering the testing room at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Yeongdeungpo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul.
Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] In Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a second-grade student at Yeon-eun Elementary School and the student's father were each confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). It has been analyzed that the student's father is connected to the pastor of Uijeongbu Jusarang Church (Uijeongbu case number 39), who is also a confirmed case.

On the 27th, Na Baekju, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizen Health Bureau, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing held at Seoul City Hall, "On the 26th, a second-grade elementary school student and his father, who used the emergency care classroom at an elementary school located in Eunpyeong-gu, were confirmed positive," adding, "The student's father visited the restaurant 'Jangsu Samgyetang' located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 18th, where it was identified that he had contact with the confirmed pastor of Uijeongbu Jusarang Church."

He continued, "The student's father and the pastor of Uijeongbu Jusarang Church were not part of the same group," and explained, "It is reported that they stayed at the Samgyetang restaurant at the same time, and we are closely examining the related connection. The detailed infection route is currently under investigation."

He further stated, "The student's father showed symptoms such as sputum and chills on the 21st, and the student exhibited symptoms like headache on the 25th," concluding, "It is presumed that the infection was transmitted from the father to the child."

The pastor of Uijeongbu Jusarang Church, confirmed as Uijeongbu case number 39, was found to be connected through a Bible study group called the Original Bible Study Group with confirmed cases including a missionary from Eunhye Methodist Church in Yangcheon-gu and a pastor from Eunhye Church in Dobong-gu.

Accordingly, the confirmed pastor of Uijeongbu Jusarang Church is presumed to have been infected through the Bible study meeting along with these individuals.

According to Seoul City and Yeon-eun Elementary School, A, a second-grade student residing in Eungam 2-dong, attended school on the 25th to use the emergency care classroom but developed a headache and visited the school health room.

Subsequently, his temperature was 37.7 degrees Celsius, and he was transferred to a nearby screening clinic for diagnostic testing, where he was classified as a confirmed case at 10:16 a.m. that day.

The student's father, a man in his 40s, was also tested and confirmed positive. A's younger sibling, who attends the attached kindergarten of Yeon-eun Elementary School, was also tested and is currently awaiting results.

The school facilities have been closed for 48 hours and will undergo special disinfection. Yeon-eun Elementary School plans to conduct remote classes starting from the 27th. The timing for returning to in-person classes will be decided in consultation with health authorities and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

Meanwhile, as of now, there are 112 contacts including 51 students, 11 teachers, family members, and colleagues from the father's workplace, and testing is ongoing for these individuals.

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