Health Authorities "Taking Follow-up Measures After 'Yeongsaenggyo Group Infection'... Urging Caution During Seol Holiday (Update)"

Infection Reproduction Number Approaches 1, Up from 0.79 Four Weeks Ago

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The quarantine authorities announced that the cluster infection case centered on Yeongsaeng Church in Bucheon that occurred the day before is "a different case from the previous IM Mission," and said they will take follow-up measures together with related ministries and local governments.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, explained at a regular briefing on the 10th, "This Yeongsaeng Church-related case involved a confirmed case of a believer living in the Yeongsaeng Church dormitory, who worked as a tutor at an unauthorized cram school, where the infection spread," adding, "This case is different from the unauthorized dormitory-type cram schools related to the previous IM Mission." The day before, a total of 53 people were confirmed positive in Bucheon, including 20 believers from the Yeongsaeng Church Seungri Sect and 33 instructors and students at a cram school in Ojeong-dong.

Son said, "Regarding the primary cluster, Yeongsaeng Church, dormitory facilities are being operated, and cluster infections have been confirmed elsewhere as well. It is understood that Yeongsaeng Church facilities exist nationwide," adding, "The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the Central Disease Control Headquarters, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and 17 local governments are consulting and taking follow-up measures."

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Quarantine General Division of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, also said, "Regarding the previous IM Mission, when religious facilities or organizations had separate unauthorized educational facilities and dormitory activities were conducted there, measures were announced, and more than 500 unauthorized educational facilities were inspected on-site, mainly led by the Ministry of Education." He added, "Among them, about 300 are related to religious facilities, and inspections were conducted on more than 500 such places until the 5th of this month."

He emphasized, "Separately, it seems that various types of forms exist within religious facilities," and added, "We will be more vigilant and carefully examine blind spots and opinions from the field."

Additionally, the quarantine authorities expressed concern about the quarantine situation ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Yoon said, "The Lunar New Year holiday starts tomorrow. While the third wave of COVID-19 continues, the average number of confirmed cases from the 4th to the 10th was 346 per day," adding, "Considering that the number of patients was about 80 just before last year's Chuseok holiday, this is a very high level."

The reproduction number, an indicator that gauges the spread of COVID-19, is also unstable. According to the authorities, the reproduction number has steadily increased from 0.79 four weeks ago and is now approaching 1.0. In the metropolitan area, it is slightly above 1.0.

Yoon warned, "Considering various situations, the decline of the third wave is stagnating, and the risk of re-spread still exists," adding, "If regional movement increases due to returning home or traveling during the Lunar New Year holiday, and meetings with family and acquaintances who are not usually met increase, the third wave could spread again."

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