South Korea has banned all religious gatherings after health care workers found more than 600 coronavirus infections linked to a Seoul church, reports the South China Morning Post.
“This is our last ditch for defense against the virus. If we fail to stop it this time, we would be left with no further ammunition,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said, urging residents to observe social distancing.
Kwon Jun-wook, director of South Korea’s National Health Institute, said 623 cases have been linked to members of the Sarang Jeil Church. The country on Wednesday reported 297 new cases of the virus, its biggest daily rise since March 8.
“The size of infections in the Seoul metropolitan area, especially the cluster at the Sarang Jeil Church, is quite alarming,” said Jun-wook. “We are possibly facing a greater crisis than the Shincheonji (Church) outbreak.”
Jeon Kwang-hoon, the pastor of the church who has been a vocal opponent of the country’s president, has been hospitalized since Monday after testing positive.
Officials have enforced stronger social distancing restrictions for Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province and the city of Incheon, prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
Nightclubs, karaoke rooms, buffet restaurants, computer gaming cafes and other “high-risk” facilities will be shut, while churches will be required to conduct services online.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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