Seoul Easter COVID-19 Special Inspection, 11 Fines Issued... "Strengthening Inspections of Religious Facilities"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 4th, Seoul City conducted a special COVID-19 prevention inspection targeting religious facilities for Easter and detected 11 cases of repeated violations.

According to Seoul City on the 5th, the city, together with autonomous districts, deployed 1,224 personnel to inspect 1,660 locations including churches and cathedrals, imposing fines on repeated violations and providing on-site guidance in other cases.

Song Eun-cheol, head of the Infectious Disease Control Division of Seoul City, said in an online briefing, "Recently, multiple cases of cluster infections through churches have occurred, raising concerns about the spread of infections in religious facilities," adding, "We plan to strengthen inspections of religious facilities to block the spread of infections."

Due to a cluster infection at a church in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 125 people nationwide and 30 people in Seoul have been confirmed positive. Epidemiological investigations revealed that this church has branches nationwide, and believers attended worship services in other regions. On the 29th of last month, a church opening worship service was held in another region where food was shared.

Seoul City plans to respond strictly to violations of quarantine rules, including bans on gatherings and fines. The church in Seodaemun-gu has been ordered to close its facilities and banned from gatherings until further notice.

Song, head of the Infectious Disease Control Division, emphasized, "Voluntary compliance with quarantine rules by religious people is most important to prevent infections and continue safe religious activities."

Meanwhile, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases on the 4th was 152, an increase of 3 from the previous day's 149. Among the new cases, 149 were domestic infections and 3 were imported cases.

Following cluster infections related to religious facilities, 8 additional cases were confirmed related to a health experience facility in Gwanak-gu, and 6 cases related to workplaces in Jung-gu. There were 2 cases each related to workplace and group living in Gwanak-gu and Incheon, a hospital in Dobong-gu, and an indoor sports facility in Jungnang-gu. Other cluster infections accounted for 5 cases, 62 cases were contacts of confirmed patients, 10 were contacts of confirmed patients from other cities and provinces, and 34 cases are under investigation for infection routes.

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