Coronavirus: infected health official leading South Korea’s fight against Covid-19 is member of Shincheonji Church of Jesus
- Official in charge of fight against the virus in western Daegu admits being member of controversial sect after testing positive; 50 coworkers quarantined
- An infected police officer and a teacher have also identified themselves as members following diagnoses
A senior health official at the forefront of South Korea’s fight against Covid-19 has tested positive for the coronavirus – and identified himself as a member of the religious group linked to hundreds of other cases.
The official, whose name has been kept from the public, is the head of the Infection Preventive Medicine Department in the western district of Daegu City, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak in South Korea.
Daegu, population 2.2 million, and its surrounding province of North Gyeongbuk, account for 681 of the 833 infections confirmed in the country as of Monday afternoon. More than 450 of those cases have already been identified as followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a group that mainstream churches see as a cult, and experts believe this number is likely to rise.
The official, who was in charge of the district’s fight against the virus, identified himself as belonging to the controversial Christian sect after he tested positive for the virus, said Daegu City Mayor Kwon Young-jin.
Consequently, 50 other health officials who worked with him have been quarantined at their homes as a precautionary measure.
