Prime Minister Chung: "Accuracy of Some Church Visitor Lists Is Low... Urges Faithful Submission" (Update)

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 17th regarding the large-scale cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the metropolitan area, "At this point, preventing further spread is the top priority, so we must proactively block the possibility of transmission through rapid diagnostic testing."

Prime Minister Chung made these remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at Seoul City Hall on the same day, stating, "The battle against COVID-19 is a race against time."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, a total of 548 new domestic COVID-19 cases were reported over three days from the 14th. On the 14th, there were 103 cases; on the 15th, 166 cases; and on the 16th, 279 cases were confirmed.

Above all, the spread in the metropolitan area is showing a steep upward trend. In Seoul and Gyeonggi regions, which have been elevated to social distancing level 2, the number of confirmed cases presumed to have been infected within the community increased nearly twofold daily, recording 69 → 139 → 237 cases.

The increase in confirmed cases in the metropolitan area is largely influenced by cluster infections in churches. In the case of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, after one church member was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 12th, the number of confirmed cases snowballed, reaching a total of 249 as of noon the previous day.

Prime Minister Chung expressed concern, saying, "The daily average number of confirmed cases over four days has reached 186. Especially in some churches where large-scale cluster infections occurred, many individuals who need to undergo diagnostic testing remain, so there is a high possibility that the number of confirmed cases will increase further."

He added, "However, the accuracy of visitor lists submitted by some churches is low, causing difficulties in identifying individuals. We urge the churches concerned to sincerely submit accurate visitor information."

He also said, "There are indications that some church members who should have undergone diagnostic testing participated in the Liberation Day rallies over the weekend, raising concerns about further spread. We ask church members, visitors, and contacts to immediately visit screening clinics and actively cooperate with diagnostic testing."

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "Due to the increase in confirmed cases in the metropolitan area, it is necessary to proactively secure medical resources such as hospital beds and medical personnel. We have already activated a joint hospital bed response system in the metropolitan area since yesterday, and there is still some capacity."

He further stated, "However, if the current upward trend continues, a shortage of hospital beds similar to what occurred in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in the past may happen. We ask for active cooperation from the private sector, including support for medical personnel, in addition to measures by the government and local governments."

Prime Minister Chung also said, "In this serious situation, the Resident Doctors Association plans to suspend work indefinitely starting from the 21st, and the Medical Association has announced a second collective strike for three days starting from the 26th. Before engaging in collective actions that jeopardize the lives and safety of the public, the Medical Association and others should sit down with the government and seek solutions through sincere dialogue."

He explained, "Starting as early as tomorrow, the second semester will begin sequentially at elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. High schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi, where social distancing has been raised to level 2, will reduce the number of students attending school to two-thirds, and middle schools and below to one-third to lower density."

He continued, "The same measures will apply to Incheon, which shares the same living area as Seoul and Gyeonggi. We ask parents to understand that these measures prioritize the safety of students."

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