6 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Gyeongnam... Sunday 'Non-Face-to-Face Worship' Ordered

Shin Jong-woo, Director of the Gyeongnam Provincial Health Department.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju-cheol In] Six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Gyeongnam.

Gyeongnam Province announced on the 22nd that a total of six people, including participants of the Gwangbokjeol rally, tested positive for COVID-19.

A nurse in her 20s working in the emergency room of Gyeongnam Provincial Masan Medical Center, designated as an infectious disease specialized hospital, tested positive.

According to epidemiological investigations, it was confirmed that she had contact with 11 people at the hospital, including three doctors, four nurses, three hospital staff, and one patient.

COVID-19 tests are being conducted on the 11 hospital contacts and seven family members of the nurse.

A woman in her 20s living in Geoje also tested positive on the 21st.

She worked at a store in Geoje on the 19th and 20th, and the total number of contacts, including family members, is four.

A woman in her 50s residing in Yangsan, who participated in the Gwangbokjeol rally, was tested at the Yangsan City Health Center screening clinic on the 21st.

She is currently asymptomatic, and her movement paths and contacts are under investigation. A woman in her 70s from Yangsan who attended the Gwanghwamun rally in the same vehicle tested negative on the 19th.

However, she was identified as a close contact of another confirmed case in Gyeongnam and tested positive upon retesting on the same day. She is asymptomatic, and her movement paths and contacts are under investigation.

A woman in her 30s and a woman in her 60s residing in Seoul tested positive after developing symptoms following a visit to relatives' house in Changwon.

They visited the relatives' house on the 15th and subsequently traveled around Geoje, Namhae, Sacheon, and Tongyeong. Detailed movement paths and contacts are being identified.

All of them have been admitted to Masan Medical Center, and the province plans to identify additional movement paths and contacts through epidemiological investigations.

Also, viewing this weekend as a critical turning point, the province has issued an administrative order to switch to 'non-face-to-face worship' for churches where pastors and elders who attended the Gwangbokjeol rally belong or where confirmed cases have occurred. The order applies from today until the 30th, covering a total of 24 churches.

Failure to comply with the administrative order may result in penalties under relevant laws, and claims for quarantine costs and legal actions will also be taken.

Regarding the emergency administrative order to submit the list of Gwangbokjeol rally participants, 13 out of 28 subjects have submitted their lists.

As a result, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province has increased to 189. Among them, 163 have been discharged, and 26 are receiving inpatient treatment.

Governor Kim Kyung-soo stated, “In accordance with government policy, social distancing will be raised to level 2 starting from the 23rd. We ask that you refrain from gatherings or outings as much as possible this weekend and conduct religious activities non-face-to-face.”

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