Choir Without Masks, Crowded Worship Halls... Rapid Surge of COVID-19 Cases in Metropolitan Area Churches

Yongin Woori Jeil Church and Seoul Sarang Jeil Church Report Total of 239 Confirmed Cases

On the afternoon of the 14th, officials are conducting disinfection work at the entrance of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a cluster outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred. On the same day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government ordered the closure of the Sarang Jeil Church facility in Seongbuk-gu. (Source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] COVID-19 confirmed cases are rapidly increasing, centered around churches in the Seoul metropolitan area. The cumulative number of confirmed cases has exceeded 200 at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and Woori Jeil Church in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, which are at the center of the cluster infections.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of 12:00 PM on the 15th, 40 new confirmed cases were identified after investigating the members of Sarang Jeil Church and their contacts. Subsequently, with additional infections confirmed, the cumulative number of confirmed cases linked to Sarang Jeil Church surged to 134 as of 2:00 PM that day.

The CDCH estimates that COVID-19 spread rapidly during the worship service held at this church on the 9th. It is analyzed that singing hymns within a distance of less than 1 meter between worshippers due to rain increased the infections.

At a regular briefing that day, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the CDCH, expressed concern, stating, "Since the residences of the gathered people related to the church are distributed nationwide, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Chungnam, and Gangwon, quick measures and active cooperation are necessary."

Meanwhile, at Woori Jeil Church, 33 additional infections were confirmed as of 12:00 PM, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 105. Among the 33 newly confirmed cases, 32 were church members and 1 was an acquaintance. Thus, the total cumulative confirmed cases from the two churches reached 239.

The CDCH's epidemiological investigation found that the choir at Woori Jeil Church did not wear masks during the worship service and that they ate together afterward, which contributed to the spread of COVID-19. It is also presumed that weekday home visit worship services influenced the spread. Since all approximately 900 church members are currently under self-quarantine, additional confirmed cases may occur.

Meanwhile, regarding Gippeum 153 Church in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, where cluster infections were previously confirmed, 2 more people under quarantine tested positive. Accordingly, the cumulative confirmed cases related to this church increased to 26. Confirmed cases related to Banseok Church in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, also increased by 2, reaching a total of 36. Additionally, at Doesaegim Church in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, after the first confirmed case on the 12th, 2 church members and 1 acquaintance of a church member tested positive, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 4. It was reported that at this small church, worship was conducted in a narrow space where members’ shoulders touched each other without wearing masks.

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