DAEGU: Nearly 200 coronavirus survivors from a secretive South Korean sect blamed for the country's early outbreak donated blood plasma on Friday (Aug 28) to help treatment research, as the group seeks to redeem itself.
Scientists have pointed to the potential for treatment using blood plasma containing antibodies to the virus from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
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By far the South's largest contingent of coronavirus survivors is from the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult.
It was at the heart of the country's early outbreak and according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) is linked to more than 5,000 virus cases in the country.
READ: South Korea stops short of toughest COVID-19 measures despite case rise
READ: Thousands of South Korea church members quarantined as authorities warn of COVID-19 'crisis'
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Its elderly leader, Lee Man-hee, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly hindering the government's efforts to contain the epidemic.
Over the course of a week more than 1,000 Shincheonji members are donating plasma.
On Friday around 160 of them donated to the Korean Red Cross in Daegu, the centre of the Shincheonji outbreak.
Shincheonji had apologised "for causing much concern and worry to the people of Korea", the sect said in a statement, adding its leader Lee had encouraged its members, "who have been atoned for their sins by the blood of Jesus", to donate.
Donor Park Mi-kyung, 56, who was released from hospital in March, told AFP: "Now the virus is spreading again, I hope a cure can be developed quickly."
The South reported 371 new cases on Friday, the 15th consecutive day of triple-digit increases, driven by several clusters, many of them linked to Protestant churches in the Seoul region.
Shincheonji was heavily vilified back in February, and more than 1.4 million people signed a petition on the South Korean presidential office website demanding its dissolution.
READ: South Korea accuses church pastor as COVID-19 cases surge
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DAEGU: Nearly 200 coronavirus survivors from a secretive South Korean sect blamed for the country's early outbreak donated blood plasma on Friday (Aug 28) to help treatment research, as the group seeks to redeem itself.
Scientists have pointed to the potential for treatment using blood plasma containing antibodies to the virus from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
Advertisement
Advertisement
By far the South's largest contingent of coronavirus survivors is from the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult.
It was at the heart of the country's early outbreak and according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) is linked to more than 5,000 virus cases in the country.
READ: South Korea stops short of toughest COVID-19 measures despite case rise
READ: Thousands of South Korea church members quarantined as authorities warn of COVID-19 'crisis'
Advertisement
Advertisement
Its elderly leader, Lee Man-hee, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly hindering the government's efforts to contain the epidemic.
Over the course of a week more than 1,000 Shincheonji members are donating plasma.
On Friday around 160 of them donated to the Korean Red Cross in Daegu, the centre of the Shincheonji outbreak.
Shincheonji had apologised "for causing much concern and worry to the people of Korea", the sect said in a statement, adding its leader Lee had encouraged its members, "who have been atoned for their sins by the blood of Jesus", to donate.
Donor Park Mi-kyung, 56, who was released from hospital in March, told AFP: "Now the virus is spreading again, I hope a cure can be developed quickly."
The South reported 371 new cases on Friday, the 15th consecutive day of triple-digit increases, driven by several clusters, many of them linked to Protestant churches in the Seoul region.
Shincheonji was heavily vilified back in February, and more than 1.4 million people signed a petition on the South Korean presidential office website demanding its dissolution.
