41 Church-Related Cluster Infections Occurred This Year... "Please Refrain from Private Gatherings"

On January 26, trainees from Daejeon IEM International School who tested positive for COVID-19 are seen walking to board a bus at a church in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, heading to a community treatment center. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Since the beginning of this year, 41 cluster infections related to churches have occurred, resulting in a total of 1,552 confirmed cases.

On the 25th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) introduced recent cluster outbreak cases related to churches and analyzed risk factors, revealing this information. The CDCH stated, "Although church-related cluster outbreaks have generally decreased recently, this analysis focuses on risk factors continuously identified ahead of the Easter period in early April," and reiterated the importance of adhering to quarantine guidelines to minimize infection risks.

Looking at the monthly data, there were 23 cases with 1,044 confirmed patients in January, 12 cases with 406 patients in February, and 6 cases with 102 patients in March, showing a decline since mid-February.

The health authorities analyzed that church-related cluster outbreaks mainly spread through small gatherings among church members before and after worship services, followed by additional transmission among family, acquaintances, and workplaces.

In particular, the main risk factors identified were ▲participation in face-to-face worship despite the onset of suspicious symptoms ▲small gatherings such as meals among church members before and after worship ▲insufficient ventilation within facilities ▲inadequate social distancing inside the worship hall.

In this regard, the health authorities urged church members to ▲get tested immediately if suspicious symptoms appear ▲refrain from small gatherings among church members, and requested church quarantine managers to ▲thoroughly monitor symptoms of entrants ▲refrain from church meetings and events other than face-to-face worship ▲manage the number of attendees at face-to-face worship ▲ensure regular ventilation and compliance with social distancing inside the worship hall.

At a briefing on the same day, Kwon Jun-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Thanks to the active participation of religious leaders and believers in quarantine measures, the recent outbreak situation through churches has significantly decreased, and the quarantine system related to religious facilities is well established," expressing gratitude for their cooperation and participation.

However, he added, "There is a slight increase in cluster outbreaks through small gatherings and meals after worship services," expressing growing concern and repeatedly urging, "Please refrain from private gatherings and meals after worship activities."

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