Guidelines for Church Visit and Worship Services as of August 13,
(Updated on August 14, Valid through August 22, 2020)
1. Confirmed Cases at Samil Church
Unfortunately, it was reported that three attendees of the worship service on Sunday, August 9 had been confirmed of contracting COVID-19 on Aug. 12 and 13. Thus, Samil Church immediately traced the contact of the patients and potential of further infections together with the Contract Tracing of the Health Department. As a result, the three patients had been infected outside Samil Church before they came to church. Thanks to the scrutinized compliance with the preventive measures guideline of Samil Church, no possibility of further infection in the church is confirmed.
2. Contact Tracing of the Patients
1) Patient A (male) confirmed in Yongsan-gu (8/12)
-Date of visit: attended the worship service at 12:00 on Sunday, August 9
-Specific Venues of Contact
① 1st floor entrance, temperature check and roster confirmation (12:06)
② Use the internal staircase #1
③ Seating in the main hall on the 2nd floor (Seat No. 381 of the central column on the left)
④ Exit through the stairs outside
⑤ Re-entry to the lobby on the 1st floor (temperature check and roster confirmation)
⑥ Use of the restroom on the 1st floor (the far end of the men's toilet)
⑦ Exit through the lobby (13:19)
-Duration Time of Stay inside the Building: 1 hour and 15 minutes from 12:05 to 13:20
As a result of the surveillance camera inspection, no close contact is made after using the men's restroom on the 1st floor (toilet at the far end).
2) Patient B (Female) confirmed in Paju City (8/12)
-Date of visit: Friday, August 7 (Attended the prayer meeting)
-Duration Time of Stay: 1 hour and 40 minutes from 9:20pm to 11:00pm
- Specific Venues of Contact:
① 1st floor entrance, temperature check and roster confirmation (21:21)
② Using the elevator #2
③ Seating in the main hall on the 3rd floor (seat #018 of left column & 1st row)
④ Move to the stairs # 1
⑤ Use of ladies’ restroom on the 1st floor
⑥ Exit through the lobby (23:01)
As a result of the surveillance camera inspection, no close contact is spotted after using the ladies’ restroom on the 1st floor.
-Date of visit: Attended the service at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 9
-Duration Time of Stay: 1 hour and 10 minutes from 6:10pm to 7:20pm
- Specific Venues of Contact:
① 1st floor entrance, temperature check and roster confirmation (18:09)
② Using the elevator No. 1
③ Seating in the main hall on the 2nd floor (#430 in the central column to the right)
④ Exit through the stairs outside (19:21)
As a result of CCTV check, no close contacts made other than accompanying the Patient C below, and they left immediately after the service through the outside stairs.
3) Patient C (male) confirmed in Gwanak-gu (8/13)
An acquaintance of Patient B. Confirmed to be in close contact and get infected
-Date of visit: Attended the service at 6 o'clock on Sunday, August 9
- The specific venues of contact is the same as that of Patient B and the seat is (#426 in the central column to the right)
As a result of surveillance check, no close contacts were identified; they exited immediately through the stairs outside after the service.
* It was confirmed that the patients complied with the preventive measures according to the church's guidance and did not attend any meetings other than the service.
3. Actions of Samil Church and Who Should Get Tested
As of August 13 at noon when the first patient was confirmed of visiting Samil Church, the church building was immediately closed and went through thorough disinfection measures. Samil Church has been scrutinized the quarantine regulations and prevention measures designated by the Health Department. When the patients visited Samil Church, they complied with the preventive measures (hand sanitization, temperature check, and roster check) according to the church's guideline that they had been wearing masks throughout the whole time.
Therefore, the probability of further contraction is very low, and the Health Department has approved of it through surveillance cameras. No cases of further infection are confirmed through close contact tracing record. As a result, you do not need to get COVID-19 testing unless you have symptoms. In case you have symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fever, etc. however, please contact the nearest designated clinic for COVID-19 testing and get tested.
4. Back to ONLINE Worship Service System
Although the probability of further infection due to close contact is low as proved by contact tracing of the Health Department, Samil Church made a decision to have all the services ONLINE ONLY for two weeks UNTIL AUGUST 22, Saturday in order to secure the safety of the congregation and the community.
5. When to Resume Offline Worship Service
Offline worship services will resume on Sunday, August 23 while all the entire services will be provided online until August 22.
Despite the fact that we have been worshiping safely through prayers and thorough prevention measures, we are sorry for the inevitable situation of having confirmed cases among the church members. Please pray for the patients to get well soon and for the safety of offline worship services at Samil Church.
