13 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed at Seoul's Sarang Jeil Church... Facility Closure Ordered

On the 19th, congregants at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, are holding a worship service despite restrictions. On this day, Sarang Jeil Church conducted an on-site worship service starting at 11 a.m. Although the Seoul Metropolitan Government filed charges last month for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and issued a ban on gatherings until this day, the church has continued to hold on-site worship services every week. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] After 13 people were confirmed positive within two days due to a cluster outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at Sarang Jeil Church located in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, the quarantine authorities ordered the closure of the facility.

On the 14th briefing, Park Yu-mi, the Seoul City Quarantine Controller and Director of the Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "Regarding Sarang Jeil Church, one church member was confirmed positive on the 12th, followed by 13 related confirmed cases on the 13th, among which 11 were confirmed in Seoul City."

The quarantine authorities are currently collecting and testing specimens from 15 other church members and 26 family members of this church.

Seoul City announced that the total number of people tested related to this church so far is 1,897, and this number may increase further.

Director Park said, "Considering the characteristics of a large church with many elderly members and believers scattered nationwide, the risk of transmission is increasing," adding, "If patients are not detected early, the risk of community infection spreading is very high, making this a serious situation."

The city also issued an administrative order banning the assembly for the urban rally scheduled for the 16th-17th, which is expected to be attended by church members belonging to this church pastored by Reverend Jeon Gwang-hoon, who is affiliated with the conservative group Liberty Union. Previously, on the 13th, the city had issued a ban on all Liberation Day rallies scheduled for the 15th.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul on the 13th alone was 32, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases in Seoul as of midnight on the 14th to 1,767. The 32 confirmed cases in one day is the second highest record after the 46 cases on March 10th during the cluster outbreak at the Guro-gu call center.

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