67 Cases of Secondary Infection from Sarangjeil Church... 17 More in One Day (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
150 Locations with Potential Transmission Among Congregants
67 Additional Cases in 13 Locations Unrelated to Churches

On the 20th, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, the scene of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As of noon on the 20th, the number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was counted at 676. This is an increase of 53 from the previous day.

By region, Seoul has the highest number with 409 cases, followed by Gyeonggi with 189, and Incheon with 39, totaling 637 cases in the metropolitan area alone. Non-metropolitan areas have 39 cases, with Chungnam having the most at 12, Gangwon 7, Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk 5 each, Daegu 4, and Busan 3. Daejeon has 2 cases, and Chungbuk has 1 case classified as church-related confirmed cases.

According to the domestic occurrence status announced by the Central Disease Control Headquarters as of 12 PM on the same day, a total of 150 facilities have been identified where people who may have been infected, including church members, have visited in relation to this church. This is an increase of 36 facilities from the previous day. Workplaces are the most with 60 locations, followed by schools and academies with 38, social welfare facilities 16, medical institutions 11, daycare centers and kindergartens 10, and religious facilities about 9.

Although not directly related to this church, 67 people infected through workplace transmission and others were counted across 13 locations. These are secondary or subsequent infections, i.e., n-th generation infections. Other churches such as Antioch Church have the highest number with 33 cases, and 23 people were infected at workplaces including Lotte Home Shopping and Shinhan Life Insurance call centers. Compared to the previous day's investigation, the number of facilities and institutions increased by 2, and patients increased by 17.

Regarding the rally held on the 15th in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, 8 additional confirmed cases were reported, bringing the cumulative number to 18. There are 4 cases each in Seoul and Gyeonggi, 5 in Gyeongbuk, 2 in Busan, and 1 each in Incheon, Chungbuk, and Chungnam. According to the current investigation results, these 18 people have not been confirmed to be directly related to Sarang Jeil Church, and the health authorities estimate that the infection likely spread at the rally venue.

In the cluster related to Hyundai Commercial Gangseo Branch in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and a family in Suseong-gu, Daegu, 2 additional confirmed cases were found during contact tracing, increasing the cumulative number to 19. Regarding the physical education entrance exam academy in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, after the first confirmed case on the 18th, 17 more were added, raising the total to 18. Among them, 16 are academy students and 2 are family members or acquaintances.

The number of confirmed cases related to Doesaegim Church in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, increased to 13, and those related to Mapo-gu Fubon Hyundai Life Insurance call center increased to 7. The clusters involving a family in Songpa-gu and the Dunchon Public Prugio Daycare Center in Gangdong-gu also increased to 8 confirmed cases each.

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