South Korea church spurs new outbreak of COVID-19 amongst dozens of worshippers
A church in South Korea has spurred a new outbreak of coronavirus amongst its worshippers, after a church official used the same bottle to spray saltwater into dozens of mouths during a religious service.
Over 70 attendees of the Grace River Church in the Gyeonggi province, south of Seoul, have tested positive to COVID-19.
All were under the false belief inserting a spray bottle into worshippers' mouths would help prevent the spread of coronavirus, authorities said this week.
Hygiene officials disinfect an area around temporarily closed River of Grace Community Church in Seongnam, South Korea. EPA/AAP
The church official allegedly did not disinfect the nozzle before spraying each person causing at least 71 people to become infected, including a pastor and his wife.
The Grace River Church is now closed and has dispatched an immediate response team to identify people who visited the church during the first week of March.
Over 135 devotees are in self-isolation and following direction from local health authorities.
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Hanwha Life Insurance are in the process of gradual expansion to deal with COVID-19 cases.
A man takes a photograph at the gate to the temporarily closed River of Grace Community Church, which will be shut until March 22. EPA/AAP
Federal and local officials have urged religious groups to alter worship practices to prevent further spread of the virus.
South Korea has had more than 8,000 coronavirus cases, the highest number for any Asian country outside China - of these, 1,400 recovered and 81 deaths have been confirmed.
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