Jeonnam Province Issues Administrative Order for Diagnostic Testing of Visitors to High-Risk Facilities

Churches in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and Entertainment Bars in Chipeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has issued an administrative order mandating 'diagnostic testing' for visitors to churches in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On the 17th, Jeonnam Province announced that on the 16th, in anticipation of a resurgence due to a rapid increase in confirmed cases centered in the metropolitan area, it issued an urgent administrative order requiring mandatory COVID-19 diagnostic testing for visitors to churches in the metropolitan area.

The diagnostic testing targets visitors to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (August 7 to August 13), Uri Jeil Church in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province (August 1 to August 12), gatherings near Gyeongbokgung Station (August 8), the Liberation Day gathering (August 15), and karaoke rooms and singing halls in the Sangmu district of Gwangju (after August 10).

The province issued this administrative order as a preemptive measure to quickly identify COVID-19 infected individuals and block community transmission.

The testing period is from the 16th to the 21st, and tests must be conducted at screening clinics set up in public health centers within Jeonnam Province, with personal information protected.

In particular, the province considers the spread of COVID-19 in the nearby Sangmu district of Gwangju to be a serious situation and emphasized the need for active cooperation, including prompt participation in testing by the targeted individuals.

Additionally, the province plans to strengthen contact tracing investigations for those notified as contacts, visitors to metropolitan area churches, and participants in gatherings.

Violations of the administrative order will result in prosecution under the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act,' and if confirmed cases occur, claims for damages will also be pursued.

Kang Young-gu, Director of the Jeonnam Provincial Health and Welfare Bureau, said, "While Jeonnam is facing difficulties due to flood damage, COVID-19 cluster infections are spreading recently in metropolitan area churches and Gwangju entertainment establishments. We will mobilize all administrative resources to do our best to prevent confirmed cases in Jeonnam."

As of now, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jeonnam is 42, with 18 local infections and 24 imported cases.

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