Sincheonji Church in Daegu
Nationally, 71.7% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea are verified to be related to massive infections. The other 28.3% cases are due to sporadic infections or still being investigated for the causes. Investigating the massive infection cases by regions, confirmed that cases related to Sincheonji Church in Daegu accounted for 72.4% of the overall confirmed cases in the city with the number of 3,397. More cases were confirmed in public and medical facilities while investigating people who had had contact with the Sincheonji followers [8].
Oncheon Church
In Busan and Gyeongnam, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases related to a retreat to Oncheon Church is 35. People from Busan account for most of the cases with the number of 33; people from Gyeongnam are the next. Among them, members of the congregation are 28, and they have infected 7 others who contacted them. The Oncheon Church case occupies 35.5% of the total confirmed cases in Busan, 93 being the city’s total number of patients [9].
Geochang Church
Geochang Church bore the most COVID-19 confirmed cases as a single group in a single region of Gyeongnam province. Therefore, Gyeongnam province government sent an epidemiological investigation team to Geochang and started an in-dept investigation in cooperation with the city government of Geochang. The number of the members of Geochang Church congregation is 60, with 39 people living in Geochang and 21 coming from other towns. Among the 39 members from Geochang, 10 people were confirmed to be infected while the other 29 were confirmed negative. 62 people who had contacted the confirmed cases are all confined in their own homes [10].
Pilgrims to Israel
Among the 39 pilgrims of Andong, Gyeongbuk parish of the Catholic Church, who had participated in the pilgrimage to Israel, 30 people were confirmed to be infected by COVID-19. 19 other people who had contacted with the confirmed cases were also tested to be positive, making the total number of the confirmed cases 49. As some of the pilgrims are reported to have visited restaurants and eateries after returning to Korea, there is a possibility of regional spread [11].
Saengmyeongsam Church in Suwon
The massive infection among Saengmyeongsam Church congregation, which bore 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19, is reported to have been caused by worshipping and eating together in a small and crowded indoor environment. A Sincheonji believer and lecturer from Sincheonji Church, Daegu, who attended the service, is indicated to be the route channel [12].
Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo
Total of 118 COVID-19 cases were confirmed among the patients and medical personnel of Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk. This is the second biggest massive infection case, following the Sincheonji Church case. As many as seven people died. Among the confirmed cases other than the dead, 101 out of the 103 inpatients of the psychiatric ward were infected, leaving only 2 patients unaffected [13].
St. Mary’s Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul
The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases related to St. Mary’s Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, increased to 14. The quarantine officials regard this case as the biggest massive infection in Seoul and continuing investigation. Among the 14 confirmed cases, 4 are inpatients, 5 are family members of the patients, 2 are caregivers, 1 is a transferring agent, and 2 are others (a care worker and a blood-donation bus worker). Classifying according to their residences, 6 live in Eunpyeong-gu, 2 in Gangdong-gu, 2 in Jongro-gu, 2 in Seodaemun-gu, 1 in Yangcheon-gu, and 1 in Goyang-si [14].
Hanmaeum Hospital in Changwon
Hanmaeum Hospital in Changwon, where medical personnel were confirmed positive of COVID-19 subsequently, is the first place quarantined as a cohort. Total number of the confirmed cases is 7. On February 26th, 2020, provincial government of Gyeongsangsnam-do announced that it had decided to quarantine the hospital as a cohort for 14 days after negotiating with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recognizing the seriousness of this situation. The number of people cohort-quarantined is 100, including 91 inpatients and medical personnel [15].
Jaesaeng Hospital in Bundang
A massive infection occurred among eight medical personnel and inpatients in Jaesaeng Hospital in Bundang, Sengnam-si in Gyeonggi-do. Total of eight cases including 2 nurses, 3 nurses’ aides, and 3 patients were confirmed to be positive in COVID-19 diagnostic checks [16].
Mil-al Sarang-eu-Jib, a Facility for People with Serious Handicaps in Chilgok
On February 25th, 2020, 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 occurred in a facility for people with serious handicaps in Gasan-myeon, Chilgok-gun in Gyeongbuk. According to the public health authorities and the provincial government of Gyeongsangbuk-do, 21 people were confirmed to be infected by COVID-19, including 11 inpatients, 5 staff, and 5 challenged workers in Mil-al Sarang-eu-Jib, a facility for people with serious handicaps, With another case confirmed the day before, the total number of cases is 22 [17].
Seorin Sanitarium in Gyeongsan
Another massive infection case of Seorin sanitarium with 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 is also reported to have started with the first patient who had contacted a Sincheonji Church member [18].
Pureun Sanitarium in Bongwha, Gyeongbuk
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pureun Sanitarium are 49, with 39 inpatients, 9 care workers, and 1 nurse’s aide. 116 people live in or work for Pureun Sanitarium, with 56 inpatients, 42 in-house staff, and 18 workers of the day care center. The proportion of confirmed cases reach 42.2% among the in-house staff [19].
Zumba Dance Studios
The second confirmed case in Cheonan, Chungnam, a zumba dancer in her 50’s, gave lessons to others in three separate studios in the city. Later, 80 cases were confirmed from 7 sports facilities in Chungnam, with zumba dance studios in Cheonan at the center. Among them, 4 are instructors, 50 are attendee, and 26 are family members and other contacts [20].
An Apartment Building in Seongdong-gu
13 cases of COVID-19 occurred in an apartment building with stores on the ground floor in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The route channel is estimated as the residents of the building → a member of the managerial staff → his family members → colleagues of the family members [21].
A Private Educational Institute
As a series of COVID-19 infection cases are occurring in a private educational institute in Busan, Busan Office of Education (with superintendent of education Seokjun Kim) took measures, including sending text messages to all parents of students attending kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, pleading them not to send their children to private educational institutes until the spread of COVID-19 moderates. Currently, 4 cases were confirmed (including 2 students) from a private educational institute in Jingu, Busan [22].
A Coin Karaoke in Changnyeong
During the recent week, as many as 6 cases of COVID-19 infection were confirmed from a coin Karaoke in Changnyeong-eup, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam. They are Cases No. 51 (61, female), 56 (30, male), 61 (30, male), 70 (24, male), 71 (16, female), and 76 (24, male). Case No. 51 is the manager of the coin karaoke, while four among the others (Cases No. 61, 70, 71, and 76) were visitors to the place [23].
The Occurrence Types of COVID-19: Sporadic Infections
Home
Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases in Korea, two were confirmed tertiary infection cases following secondary infection, spreading social anxiety. A, Case No. 6 (55), was confirmed to have been infected after eating together with B, Case No. 3 (54) in a restaurant (Hanil-gwan) in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. A infected two of his family members, leading to the first tertiary infection cases in Korea. Until now, the number of contacts to A is investigated to be 8, including his family [24].
Wedding Hall
A, a confirmed case who is currently being treated in a management ward, reported that he was infected after visiting a wedding hall in Daegu. He spent only 1 hour and 10 minutes in the wedding hall. On the date of visiting, his wife and son wore masks unlike himself 25].
Elevator
A (53, male), a curate of Myeongseong Church in Gangdong-gu, and B (41, female), a resident of the same apartment building he lived in took the same elevator, and both were confirmed positive. B didn’t wear a mask in the elevator and became a COVD-19 case occurring from a short time spent in an elevator [26].
Internet café
In Busan, a middle school student (teenager) was confirmed to be infected by COVID-19 on February 28th, 2020, after visiting the same Internet café where a member of Oncheon Church had visited [27].
Cases of Preventing the Spread of COVID-19
Daily record of COVID-19
A, a tour guide, confined himself in his own home when he first developed symptoms such as sore throat on January 31st, 2020. Since then, he recorded his symptoms meticulously in a daily journal about COVID-19. When going to hospitals, he avoided using public transportation and walked, passing only uncrowded routes. He wore masks and gloves even in his home, which led to the negative confirmation of 23 people who had contacted him, including his mother living with him under the same roof [28].
Home Confinement
Patient number 63 from Bukgu, Busan, who is in his 30’s, confined himself to his home when he heard that he was confirmed positive of COVID-19 and drove by himself even when visited the selective care center. He always wore masks in his own home and separated his living area, saving his parents; they were both confirmed negative [28].
Masks and Sanitary Gloves
A COVID-19 confirmed case C (58, male) wore masks and sanitary gloves even in his homes when he developed symptoms of the virus. He sterilized the dishes he used in hot water right after using. Even though he was confirmed negative once, he recorded his symptoms and the places he went just in case. After he was confirmed, he provided this information to the prevention authorities and contributed to their quick reaction [29].
Pyeongtaek city government in Gyeonggi-do announced that all the family members of the second COVID-19 confirmed case were confirmed negative of the virus on February 24th, 2020. CCTV footages showed that the patient always wore the mask [30].