732 Confirmed Cases from Sarang Jeil Church... 100 Cases of Unrelated Secondary Infections in Churches

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
168 Facilities and Institutions Visited by Congregants at Risk of Transmission
Additional Transmission Unrelated to Churches Also Increased to 19 Locations and 100 People

On the morning of the 21st, the church's legal team is speaking at a press conference condemning the fake quarantine martial law of the Moon Jae-in administration held in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, has increased to 732 in ten days amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The number of infections due to additional transmission, including those who are not church members or do not directly attend the church, has risen to 100.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of noon on this day, 56 new confirmed cases related to this church were added compared to the previous day, bringing the cumulative total to 732. Seoul has the highest number with 451 cases, followed by Gyeonggi Province with 196, and Incheon with 39, totaling 686 cases in the metropolitan area alone. There are also 46 cases outside the metropolitan area, including 16 confirmed in Chungnam Province. By age group, those aged 60 and over account for 307 cases, about 42% of the total patients. The proportion of middle-aged and elderly patients is relatively high.

Among the church members or visitors, the number of other facilities or institutions where transmission is possible has increased by 18 to 168 compared to the previous day. This suggests that church members or visitors may have infected others at workplaces, schools, academies, or other religious facilities.

Additional transmission cases, so-called n-th generation infections, who were infected through contact at other places such as workplaces or hospitals but are not directly related to Sarang Jeil Church, have also been counted at 100, an increase of 33 from the previous day. The number of facilities and institutions involved also increased by six in one day to 19. Newly confirmed n-th generation infection sites include four religious facilities: Eun Chong Church in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province; Yeongok Central Church in Pocheon; Dogoksan Prayer Center in Gyeryong, Chungnam Province; and Saengsu Prayer Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, as well as Bobaeyoyangwon in Seo-gu, Daegu, and Sanggye High School in Nowon.

On the afternoon of the 15th, a rally condemning corruption in the Moon Jae-in administration, abuse of power by Choo Mi-ae, and sexual harassment by Democratic Party local government heads was held in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, hosted by Sarang Jeil Church and the Liberty Solidarity.

71 Infected at Gwanghwamun Rally Unrelated to Church
20 at Sunbogeum Church · 88 at Gold Train

Other group infections in Seoul have also steadily added new cases. Regarding the Gwanghwamun rally in Seoul on the 15th, 53 additional confirmed cases were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 71. This group excludes cases related to Sarang Jeil Church and only counts those unrelated to the church. Four police officers at the rally site are also included. Related to Gold Train in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and a group gathering in Yangpyeong-gun, 12 additional confirmed cases were reported, increasing the total to 88.

Regarding a physical education entrance exam academy in Seongbuk-gu, 10 additional confirmed cases were reported, including 2 academy students and 8 family members or acquaintances, raising the total to 28. Related to Yeongdeungpo Sunbogeum Church, additional confirmed cases among church members, family, and acquaintances increased the total to 20. The cumulative number of cases at Hyundai Commercial Gangseo Branch in Yeongdeungpo-gu is 20, and related to the theater troupe 'San' in Seongbuk-gu, the total is 17. The cluster related to Dunchon Public Prugio Daycare Center in Gangdong-gu increased by 7 in one day to 15.

Additionally, a family cluster in Songpa-gu increased to 11, and the Fubon Hyundai Life Call Center cluster in Mapo-gu rose to 10. Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing that "recent group outbreaks at Sarang Jeil Church, the Gwanghwamun rally, and nationwide movement during the vacation season increase the risk of spreading from the metropolitan area to the entire country." She urged, "Please postpone or cancel unnecessary outings, gatherings, events, and travel except for visits to medical institutions, purchasing daily necessities, and commuting."

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