in the middle of February no one of the 2000 visit, expected welfare of visitors to a religious event of the Church "La Porte ouverte chrétienne" in Mulhouse, become, later, a potential victim of a Coronavirus infection. Also, many of the Swiss guests were in the context of this multi-day, almost week-event attendance – according to a media spokesperson of the free Church, about 30 in number.

however, the problem is that none of these guests had been registered by the free Church. This means that The local authorities have no Overview of who has attended the Church service and, thus, is at risk. At this time, no measures for containment of the Virus in Europe in force. The people had welcomed in the Church as usual, shaken hands and embraced, according to the spokeswoman.

The consequences. The Canton of Basel-city, which lies on the border of the Alsace region, reported on Thursday five cases of infection. Two of them could be followed according to the authorities, on a visit to the said Event. On Friday, the state Chancellery reported in new castle, ten new Coronavirus cases in the Canton, which are all also due to the Meeting of the free Church. Also, in Alsace, 21 people have been tested positive for the Virus – Many of them also in connection with the service. Several schools had to close. "We have achieved in Mulhouse, the epidemic Phase," said Christophe Lannelongue, Director of the regional health authority, the French state television.

Similarity to the outbreak in South Korea

The case is reminiscent of the spread of the Virus in South Korea, which is the majority is attributed to the religious group "Shincheonji Church of Jesus." About 60 percent of the over 6000 infections on the Korean Peninsula, according to the data of the local authorities to contagions in connection with the by many as a cult referred to grouping. The "Shincheonji Church of Jesus is" worshipped their leader Lee Man-hee as the second resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the city of Daegu, where the Virus should have spread within the community of the Church, are about 75 percent of the corona infected in the country – about 72 percent of that "Shincheonji"-members or relatives of those. These have been distributed now throughout the country. The group is alleged to have refused to provide the names of their members to the authorities and to the Coronavirus test, and thus to the spread of the Virus added. A former member told the U.S. news channel CNN that "Shincheonji"-members it has been forbidden to wear masks of any kind.

The Church has now tuned in all the worship services and other gatherings. The buildings have been disinfected by the authorities, the search for members of the group to be running. To locate the local police used the location data of the cell phones, and credit card data.

In Mulhouse, the French authorities do not even try, the visitors of the free Church event in France and abroad to track down. Because the guests at the divine service had not been registered, there is little hope to find this within a reasonable period of time, explains Lannelongue. You must now join forces to care for the sick. (sho)

Created: 06.03.2020, 17:46 PM