Cumulative 796 Confirmed Cases at Sarang Jeil Church... Spreading Nationwide (Comprehensive)

Cumulative 104 Confirmed Cases Attending Gwanghwamun Rally... Over 50,000 People Staying More Than 30 Minutes at Gwanghwamun Identified

An epidemiological investigation is underway at Sarang Jeil Church. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul are rapidly increasing. Infection cases related to gatherings such as churches are also occurring continuously in non-metropolitan areas. Some hospitals have reported confirmed cases, leading to partial ward closures or suspension of medical services.

On the 22nd, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced that as of 12 noon, 64 additional positive cases related to Sarang Jeil Church were confirmed. The cumulative number of confirmed cases is 796. By region, 747 cases are in the metropolitan area and 49 cases are in non-metropolitan areas. The cluster infection at Sarang Jeil Church is spreading widely through 'n-th generation transmission.' CDSCH identified a total of 108 infected individuals from 21 locations due to additional transmissions, including Dogoksan Prayer Center in Gyeryong-si, Chungnam, and Bobaeyoyangwon in Daegu. Epidemiological investigations are currently underway at 168 places, including daycare centers, schools, and medical institutions where infections have occurred, to prevent further spread. The government conducted a search and seizure to obtain the list of Sarang Jeil Church members and visitors. Kwon Jun-wook, deputy head of CDSCH, said at a briefing, "There are nearly 3,700 cases. Among them, about 3,500 are currently undergoing testing." He added, "The list obtained through the search and seizure may increase, so we will organize and announce this information later."

Regarding the Gwanghwamun rally in Seoul on the 15th, 33 more confirmed cases were added. The total number of confirmed cases so far is 104. These individuals are rally participants whose connection to Sarang Jeil Church has not been confirmed, and many cases have been reported outside the metropolitan area, including Gyeongbuk, Busan, Daegu, and Gyeongnam. CDSCH received phone numbers of about 50,000 people who stayed near Gwanghwamun for more than 30 minutes on the day of the rally from three mobile carriers and sent them testing recommendation messages. Among them, as of 6 p.m. the previous day, about 18,000 people had completed testing.

In the metropolitan area, additional confirmed cases continue to emerge from existing infection clusters. Related to the theater group 'San' in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 9 more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 26. At Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 8 more cases were added, totaling 28. Regarding Uri Jeil Church in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, 2 more cases were confirmed, totaling 176. At the Starbucks Paju Yadang Station branch in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, 2 additional cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 60. Related to the Hyundai Commercial Gangseo branch in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and a family in Suseong-gu, Daegu, 4 more cases were added, increasing the total to 24. At the Gold Train in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and a group gathering in Yangpyeong-gun, 2 new positive cases were confirmed, totaling 90. One more case was added related to a reunion trip to Sokcho, Gangwon Province, bringing the total to 18.

Confirmed cases continue to emerge in non-metropolitan areas as well. Regarding a sports facility in Wonju-si, Gangwon Province, 8 more people under self-quarantine tested positive, bringing the total to 18. At Dongsan Church in Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, 3 more cases were confirmed during contact tracing, and 2 more cases were added in a social gathering case in Sasang-gu, Busan. Related to a family in Iksan-si, Jeonbuk, a total of 10 cases have been confirmed. One more case was added during self-quarantine related to an entertainment facility in Sangmu District, Gwangju, increasing the total to 25.

As of midnight the previous day, the number of medical personnel confirmed positive was 137, including 11 doctors and 80 nurses. Fourteen medical staff were infected while treating COVID-19 patients or working at screening clinics, and 123 were infected through general medical care or hospital cluster outbreaks. At Asan Medical Center in Seoul, a nurse working in the otolaryngology ward tested positive, leading to the partial closure of that ward. At Cha Hospital in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, a patient in their 60s admitted to the cancer center isolation ward tested positive early on the 22nd, resulting in the suspension of hospital medical services.

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