Controversial church at middle of S Korean outbreak
A church whose head claims he is an angel of Jesus is among the most most important cluster of viral infections in South Korea, in which a surge in brand-new instances raises fears that the outbreak is getting out of control.
A complete of 152 cases of the brand new virus, like the country's first loss of life, have been within the southeast city ofDaeguand near by areas since Wednesday. Just about all have been associated with a Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where two new services were attended by a previously verified patient.
South Korea has a total of 204 cases of the virus, which in turn causes COVID-19 disease.
Little is well known about the "individual zero" except that the girl in her early 60s had no recent record of overseas travel and was diagnosed with pneumonia last weekend. She had in the beginning resisted doctors' suggestions to get analyzed for the virus, based on the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some 1,000 Shincheonji church followers who attended Sunday products and services with her have already been quarantined at their homes while authorities display screen them for the virus. Health authorities are likewise trying to monitor thousands of others.
The Shincheonji church blamed the girl for the spread of the disease, saying it's been advising followers since later January to stay home if indeed they had traveled overseas or were experiencing even mild cold-like symptoms. Church officials stated the girl assumed she was getting the common cold.
Shincheonji, which claims 200,000 followers found in South Korea, explained it closed most of its 74 churches around the nation and told people to instead look at its services on YouTube.
Shincheonji, which translates as "new heaven and new earth," was established found in 1984 by Lee Man-hee, who also features been accused by other Christian groups as a good false prophet or a cult head. The church describes Lee as "the Promised Pastor," an attendant of Jesus delivered to testify what he promises will be the fulfilled prophecies from the E book of Revelation.
"Shincheonji followers believe Lee Man-hee can be immortal and comes with an eternal life," said Ji-il Tark in Busan Presbyterian University found in South Korea. "To propagate their belief, they often times approach their family members and acquaintances or sneak to other churches without showing them they happen to be Shincheonji members."
Tark said Shincheonji followers are likely more susceptible to virus infections because they often sit very closely on the floor during offerings. At Shincheonji, going to church-related gatherings "isn't a choice, but a necessity," he said.
The church said in a statement it was fully cooperating with government quarantine efforts and accused mainstream church sets of spreading false claims, such as for example that it primarily instructed followers to keep silent about the illness.
