Cluster Infections Originating from Richwey Continue…Total of 48 Confirmed Cases Including 3 New Cases

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The cluster infection of COVID-19 that began at Richwey has spread to religious organizations including God's Church, with continued spread throughout the capital region.

Lee Hee-young, Co-Director of the Gyeonggi Province COVID-19 Emergency Response Task Force, announced at a regular briefing on the 15th that "as of 0 o'clock on the 15th, there are a total of 7 new confirmed cases in the province, with 3 related to Richwey, 1 related to an exercise facility in Yangcheon-gu, 2 cases of overseas entry, and 1 case of community transmission." The 1 new community transmission case is a contact of a previously confirmed resident of Yongin, and epidemiological investigation is ongoing regarding the transmission route.

The number of confirmed cases in the province related to Richwey, a multi-level health functional food sales company located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, has increased by 3 from 0 o'clock the previous day to a total of 48 cases. Among the additional confirmed cases, 2 are contacts of previously confirmed employees of Myeongsung Housing related to Seoul, who have been in self-isolation since June 8th and were confirmed positive, and another is a member of the same God's Church who had contact with a previously confirmed member of God's Church in Seongnam. This confirmed person has been confirmed to work at Pine Digital in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, with 130 employees of the company currently under self-isolation and active monitoring. Additionally, 12 God's Church locations in the Seongnam area, where confirmed cases continue to occur, have closed their services for 2 weeks from June 13th to 26th on their own.

The number of confirmed cases in the province related to the Yangcheon-gu Mokdong exercise facility increased by 1 as of 0 o'clock on the 15th to a total of 25 cases. The additional confirmed case is related to Senior Weekly Care Center in Gwangmyeong, an additional transmission case related to the Yangcheon-gu exercise facility, and is the spouse of a previously confirmed case at the center. After being in self-isolation since June 9th, the person was confirmed positive following symptom onset.

Director Lee emphasized that "since the start of 'distancing in daily life' on the 5th of last month, confirmed cases have surged mainly in the capital region and control has become difficult," and stressed that "to prevent a second major outbreak, adherence to quarantine practices in daily life must become habitual."

Meanwhile, as of 0 o'clock on the 15th, the number of confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province has increased by 7 from 0 o'clock the previous day to 1,044 cases.(12,003 cases nationwide) Among confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province, 715 have been discharged, and 307 are currently in isolation at hospitals and community treatment centers. Gyeonggi Province has secured 586 treatment beds for confirmed cases at 17 hospitals through cooperation with 3 nationally designated hospitalization treatment hospitals, 6 public medical institutions, and 8 general hospitals in the province, with 309 beds (52.7%) currently in use.