Gwangju Reports 18th COVID-19 Death... Investigation Requested for Unauthorized Departures from TCS International School

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] One COVID-19 death occurred and 15 new confirmed cases were added in Gwangju Metropolitan City.

According to Gwangju City on the 31st, 15 new confirmed cases were reported by 5 p.m. that day. The cumulative number of confirmed cases rose to 1,798.

The 18th COVID-19 death also occurred. The deceased was in their 80s, admitted to Gwangju Hyojeong Nursing Hospital, and passed away yesterday while receiving treatment at Bitgoeul Jeonnam National University Hospital.

Confirmed cases also emerged at the affiliated missionary center operated by Gwangju Antioch Church, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases linked to Gwangju Antioch Church to 94, approaching the 100 mark.

One additional confirmed case related to the adult arcade, which recently appeared as a new infection cluster, was reported, bringing the total to 34.

Three more confirmed cases related to Gwangju case number 1768, whose infection route is unknown, were also reported.

One person related to Evergreen Nursing Home tested positive, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases since the end of last year to 161.

At TCS Ace International School, an unauthorized educational facility where confirmed cases were first identified, one additional infection occurred, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 43.

One more confirmed case with an unknown infection route was added.

The quarantine authorities have mostly completed testing of church members who attended the last two services at Gwangju Antioch Church.

They also estimate that there may be church-related individuals outside the list of Gwangju Antioch Church members, and to prevent further infections and community spread, they are encouraging testing through emergency disaster text messages.

The quarantine authorities urged, “Citizens who have met in any form with Gwangju Antioch Church members since the 1st of this month should get tested immediately.”

Regarding the adult arcade where 34 confirmed cases suddenly appeared, since the first confirmed case on the 27th, secondary infections have occurred at a total of four adult arcades (King, Jigu, VIP, and Gongwon Game Land).

Accordingly, a two-week administrative order banning gatherings at adult arcades will be issued in Gwangju starting the following day.

The quarantine authorities, along with the police and local governments, are conducting joint inspections of 156 adult arcades in the region.

There is also evidence that confirmed cases violated self-quarantine by leaving without permission, and legal responsibility procedures are underway.

Among the 106 people tested in the first round on the 26th at Gwangju TCS International School, confirmed cases numbered 4 to 10 are subjects of the current investigation.

The quarantine authorities requested an investigation into the unauthorized departure of confirmed cases from Gwangju TCS International School on this day.

Before producing a record 120 confirmed cases in a short period, it was found that students and teachers at Gwangju TCS International School, an unauthorized educational facility affiliated with the IM Mission, gathered in large numbers and lived together in dormitory facilities within the building.

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