Sarangjeil Church Cumulative Confirmed Cases Near 1,000... Unrelated Gatherings Also Increase to 273 (Comprehensive)

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
140 Cases Including 23rd Generation Infections Originating from Sarang Jeil Church

As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly spreads nationwide, the number of new confirmed cases surged to the 400s on the 27th, causing the screening clinic set up at Yeongdeungpo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul to be crowded with citizens seeking tests. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As of noon on the 27th, the number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), reached 959, an increase of 26 from the previous day. Additional cases continue to emerge from various clusters nationwide, including the downtown Seoul rally on the 15th, which was attended by many church members.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of 12 PM on this day, among the 959 confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church, 570 were church members or visitors, 299 were cases of secondary transmission, and the remaining 90 are under investigation. Most cases are in the metropolitan area with 893, while 66 are in non-metropolitan areas. There were also 140 cases of secondary or further transmission in workplaces, schools, and other places involving individuals not directly related to the church or who did not attend it. A total of 23 locations have been identified where secondary or higher transmissions occurred.

The cluster related to the downtown Seoul rally on the 15th, which many church members attended, continues to grow steadily. So far, 273 cases have been confirmed, an increase of 54 from the previous day. This figure excludes cases related to Sarang Jeil Church. Notably, a cluster outbreak of 31 cases was confirmed at Seongnim Baptist Church in Gwangju, with the index patient having attended the rally on the 15th.

On the 27th, Seongnim Baptist Church in Gakhwa-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, where a COVID-19 cluster infection occurred, has been closed. More than 30 church members were infected after a confirmed case related to the Gwanghwamun rally attended a service at this church.

Infection at 8/15 Rally → Attendance at Worship → 30 Additional Infections
"All attendees should be tested regardless of rally type"

Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook of the Disease Control Headquarters stated, "The first patient related to the Gwangju church attended the 8/15 rally, developed symptoms on the 18th, and attended church services three times?twice on the 16th and once on the 19th. It is presumed that transmission occurred through these services." He urged, "Since confirmed cases have emerged in 13 cities and provinces including Gwangju and Busan related to this rally, raising concerns about the spread of infection, all rally attendees should get tested."

Additional infections have also been reported in clusters where many confirmed cases had previously occurred. In the case related to the Muhangu Group in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, nine more people tested positive, bringing the total confirmed cases to 56. The clusters at Suncheon Homeplus and the gym are also related to this case.

New cluster infection cases have also been identified. In Guro-gu, Seoul, after the first confirmed case on the 23rd, cluster infections were confirmed at the workplace 'Bibi Farm' in Geumcheon-gu, where the confirmed patient works, resulting in a total of 28 positive cases so far. At a hair salon (Hair Cock Yeonsinnae branch) in Eunpyeong-gu, after the first confirmed case on the 22nd, the cumulative number of confirmed cases has reached nine. Additional cases have also emerged in various clusters such as Joonim Church in Seo-gu, Incheon (36 cases), acquaintance gatherings in Anyang and Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province (17 cases), Donggwangju Table Tennis Club in Gwangju (12 cases), and indoor sports facilities in Wonju, Gangwon Province (64 cases).

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