A notice informs people that a cafeteria in the building housing the oceans and fisheries ministry at the Government Complex in Sejong, is temporarily closed so the interior can be disinfected, Thursday. The closure comes after 16 civil servants at the complex tested positive for COVID-19. /Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The Government Complex in Sejong was thrown into panic Thursday after 14 more civil servants tested positive for the new coronavirus, raising concerns over an increasing administrative vacuum.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and the Ministry of Interior and Safety, 13 new COVID-19 cases were reported at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries located in the main government building in the administrative city of Sejong. One more worker at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs was confirmed to have contracted the virus, raising the number of cases at the complex to 31.



Concerns are growing over a possible infection cluster at government buildings as this could significantly disrupt administrative operations. The Sejong Government Complex facility has the highest security-grade among 11 government centers nationwide. It employs more than 12,000 civil servants and more than 15,000 people live in the city. If there are more infected people from the complex, there is a high possibility that government functions will be disrupted.



Quarantine officials launched an investigation to discover how the patients were infected with the novel coronavirus. The oceans ministry ordered all workers who had contact with the patients to stay at home.



The government has been struggling to cope with possible cluster infections of the virus nationwide, including at the Sejong complex, which accommodates 35 government agencies. Last week, the first case of a civil servant, who works at the health ministry, becoming infected was reported.



The public health center in Sejong has been conducting an epidemiologic investigation to identify contacts and the confirmed patients' movements. The Government Buildings Management Office said it has conducted disinfections on a daily basis as well.



"There is a risk of infection when many people gather, so all ministries need to have more staff members work from home. We are also considering banning the entry of all visitors to government complexes if necessary," said an official from the office.



The KCDC reported 114 new cases of COVID-19 nationwide Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 7,869. Sixty-six people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died so far. Among the 114, 73 were in Daegu, eight in North Gyeongsang and 19 in Seoul. The number of infections in Seoul rose to 212, while Gyeonggi Province confirmed three more cases to reach 178. Incheon reported no new cases, with the city's total infections remaining static at 25.



Although concerns remain over the cluster infections especially in the capital and its neighboring satellite cities, the number of daily infections is showing signs of slowing. The KCDC said the pace of new infections dropped after the health authorities completed extensive testing of 210,000 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is at the center of the rapid spread around the country.



However, the government is still on high alert over mass infections after one occurred at a call center in Guro, Seoul. The KCDC said 102 cases were linked to the call center. All employees and trainees at the center and people who have come into contact with them have been asked to get tested.

