Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Local Infections in Seongbuk-gu Following COVID-19 Cases at Sarangjeil Church

Efforts to Prevent Spread Following Multiple COVID-19 Cases at Jangwi-dong Sarang Jeil Church

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Following the occurrence of multiple COVID-19 confirmed cases at Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is making every effort to prevent the spread of community infection.

On the 13th, when the confirmed cases were reported, Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, personally chaired an emergency countermeasure meeting and requested the full mobilization of all possible response measures.

A Seongbuk-gu official explained the background of the prompt response, stating, “The number of contacts may increase, and considering the characteristics of Sarang Jeil Church, where many elderly people attend and the congregation is scattered nationwide, the possibility of transmission is very high.”

On the same day, Seongbuk-gu immediately issued a closure order and a ban on gatherings to Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, completing disinfection and sanitation of the church facilities and surrounding areas.

At the same time, a list of 1,897 worship attendees and contacts was secured, and individual testing requests were notified.

The number of epidemiological investigators at the public health center was also significantly increased to identify contacts more quickly and accurately. On the 14th, Mayor Lee Seung-ro personally oversaw the control of access to the Sarang Jeil Church worship hall in Jangwi-dong.

Simultaneously, large-scale disinfection of 20 neighborhoods was prepared. The closure of public facilities is also under consideration. To reduce unnecessary anxiety and increase residents’ participation in social distancing, Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu issued an emergency statement on the 14th.

Mayor Lee Seung-ro pledged the full administrative effort to prevent the spread and urged active participation from residents, saying, “Visitors to Sarang Jeil Church from the 7th to the 13th, as well as their family members and acquaintances who had contact with them, should get tested regardless of symptoms, and those tested should observe a two-week self-quarantine.” He also requested, “Especially, please refrain from attending gatherings during the Liberation Day holiday period, when many people participate, as the risk of transmission is particularly high.”

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