12 New Confirmed Cases in Gyeonggi Province All From Community Transmission Including Church Gatherings

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] As COVID-19 transmission centered on church small group meetings spreads, 12 community transmission confirmed cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province on the 3rd.

Lim Seung-gwan, co-head of Gyeonggi Province's COVID-19 Emergency Response Task Force (director of Gyeonggi Province Medical Center Anseong Hospital), announced at a regular briefing that day: "A total of 12 new confirmed cases occurred in the province on this day, all from community transmission. By type of occurrence, 5 are related to Incheon Gaepyeok Church, 4 are related to ministerial gatherings in Anyang·Gunpo, 1 is related to Incheon real estate cluster infection, and 2 are of unknown origin," he said.

Confirmed cases within the province related to the Gaepyeok Church in the metropolitan area increased by 5 compared to midnight the previous day, reaching a total of 8 cases, with 6 church-related and 2 from additional community transmission. One of the confirmed cases was found to work at Maehwa Ding Dong Daeng Daycare Center located in Siheung, and diagnostic tests are being conducted on 40 children and staff members at the daycare center. Another confirmed case was found to operate a café in Bucheon, and testing is being conducted on 32 contacts.

Confirmed cases related to the ministerial gathering in Anyang·Gunpo increased by 4 as of midnight on the 3rd, bringing the total to 15 people (6 in Anyang, 9 in Gunpo) across 4 churches. Regarding the ministerial gathering in Anyang·Gunpo, since the occurrence of the first index patient, diagnostic tests have been conducted on 527 people so far, with 14 confirmed and 314 testing negative, and 199 under testing.

All 4 newly confirmed cases are cases of additional community transmission related to the ministerial gathering. The spouse of an already confirmed pastor from Eunhye Sheonil Church in Gunpo was found to be an employee at the Anyang Coca-Cola Logistics Center. Testing was conducted on 251 people including employees who had contact at the logistics center on May 28 and 29 when the person worked there, 1 was confirmed on the 2nd, 99 tested negative, and 151 are under testing. One church member who had contact with a confirmed case related to Changdae Korean Church in Gunpo was also additionally confirmed on the 2nd. The two children of the index patient related to Saeeonu Covenant Church in Gunpo, who was first confirmed on May 30, received additional confirmed diagnoses on June 2.

Gyeonggi Province is currently issuing administrative orders banning gatherings at entertainment establishments, emotional bars, karaoke and casual bars, and coin noraebang rooms until the 7th. Additionally, administrative orders restricting gatherings until the 14th have been issued for logistics warehouse businesses, transportation and courier logistics facilities, collection centers, call centers, funeral homes, and wedding halls.

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the 3rd, the number of confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province was 881, an increase of 12 from midnight the previous day.(11,590 nationwide) Of the confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province, 665 have been discharged, and 197 are currently quarantined in hospitals and community treatment centers.