'In-Person Worship Enforcement' Leads to 29 Confirmed Cases at Jinju Prayer Center... Facility Closed

On the 11th, a large number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred at the entrance of the International Prayer Center in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam, and a 'Facility Closure Administrative Order Notice' was posted. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] A cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred on the 11th at the International Prayer Center in Jinju, Gyeongnam.

On the same day, Jinju Mayor Cho Gyu-il announced at a briefing held at the city hall regarding the prevention of COVID-19 spread that 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported at the International Prayer Center located in Sangbong-dong.

Among those confirmed positive, 17 are male and 12 are female, and all have been transferred to nearby hospitals. It is reported that the confirmed cases include residents of Jinju city as well as other regions.

According to the city, Mr. A, the 838th confirmed case in Namyangju, who was diagnosed on the previous day (the 10th), visited and lectured at the prayer center from the 3rd to the 8th.

Meanwhile, Mr. B, who was confirmed positive at the Saha-gu Public Health Center in Busan on the same day, is also reported to have visited the prayer center on the 3rd.

Previously, the city had issued several warnings to the prayer center, but it was revealed that the center insisted on holding in-person worship services.

Jinju city warned the prayer center on December 29 last year to hold non-face-to-face worship services, and when this was not followed, imposed a fine the next day. Despite this, the prayer center held in-person worship services exceeding 20 people, and on the 5th, the police and city officials jointly enforced a forced dispersal.

The city has currently ordered the closure of the facility.

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