127 people, including students and faculty members, were confirmed as a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) at an unauthorized boarding-type IEM International School located in Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. The picture shows the interior of IEM International School on the 25th. Provided during Daejeon.
At the time when the third pandemic of the new coronavirus infectious disease (Corona 19) in Korea has truly entered a phase, a large-scale group infection has occurred in a religious facility in Daejeon, and the quarantine authorities are closely tense. If it spreads to local communities, such as the Shincheonji or BTJ World Center incident, the difficult corona flame could spread again. Experts are calling for preemptive measures for facilities that are concerned about group infection, saying that another loophole has been revealed in the government’s quarantine response.
Over 37% of confirmed cases related to religion
According to the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters on the 25th, the number of new corona19 confirmed patients as of 0 o’clock on the 25th rose to 400 in one day. The number of confirmed cases increased even though the number of tests was less than 30,000 due to the weekend effect and only half of the weekday.
The cause was mass infection in religious facilities. At IEM International School, an unauthorized educational facility operated by IM Mission, 124 people (cumulative 127 people) were tested positive, and 164 people, more than 37% of the total confirmed cases, came from religious facilities such as churches and prayer centers.
In particular, at IEM International School, 127 out of 158 were confirmed, showing a high positive rate of 80.3%. In addition, 7 and 13 confirmed patients were confirmed at Joseph TCS International School in Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and TCS Ace International School in Gwangju, operated by IM Mission.
A total of 12 people have been infected since the 13th in a church in Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, which was confirmed to be related to IM Mission as well as international schools.
Neither school nor church, but unauthorized facilities…
Experts are analyzing that the possibility of spreading nationwide like the Shincheonji incident is not small. Eun-mi Cheon, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “Even though the symptoms came out, it would be correct to think that it has already spread to a certain extent in the local community because a considerable period of time has passed without taking immediate action.”
According to the city of Daejeon, the first symptom was released on the 12th, and it is reported that the situation has not been identified who is the first source of infection so far. Even if students mainly stayed within the school, it is difficult to rule out the possibility that a serial infection occurred outside the school because there are several buildings and they have to go outside when moving. It is also estimated that IM Mission officials recently held admissions briefings all over the country to meet many students and parents.
However, there are also observations that it may not have spread as much as the Shincheonji or the World Center incidents. Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at the University Ansan Hospital, said, “It is relatively small and the list is in place, so it will be easy to follow up.”
“Another group infection in religious facilities… I need to provide countermeasures”
It is also pointed out that this case revealed a loophole in the government’s quarantine. IEM International School was in a blind spot outside the surveillance network of the quarantine and education authorities because it was an unauthorized facility, not a school or academy. Professor Eun-mi Chun said, “The fact that hundreds of people gathered to bed and board while high-intensity regulations were in progress reveals that there was a flaw in quarantine,” said Professor Eun-mi Cheon. I should have done it,” he pointed out.
An official from the Ministry of Education also said on the same day, “Because it is an institution that has not been legally approved or notified by the Office of Education, it cannot fall within the scope of supervision (by the education authority).” “(Regarding unauthorized facilities), local governments will provide education It is true that the violation of the relevant legal committee is in a complex blind spot that the Office of Education is in charge of.” The number of unauthorized alternative education facilities nationwide identified by the Ministry of Education reached about 300. Professor Kim also stressed that “the corona has erupted and similar mass infection incidents continue to erupt in religious facilities,” and emphasized that “even now, the government should come up with systematic and preemptive countermeasures.”
Yu Hwan-gu reporter [email protected]
Yunjoo Lee reporter [email protected]
