Seoul City officials intend to demand 4.6 billion won ($ 4 million) from Sarang Jeil Church in damages to the church for the spread of the coronavirus.

A new wave of infections broke out at a church whose members took part in a major protest in downtown Seoul in mid-August, becoming the country's largest cluster. The outbreak has led to a three-digit increase in daily COVID-19 cases for more than a month, Reuters reported.

The Seoul city government has said it will file a lawsuit against Sarang Jeil Church and its leader, accusing them of disrupting coronavirus tests and providing inaccurate member lists that have exacerbated the epidemic.

The city intends to hold the church and pastor responsible for facilitating the re-spread of COVID-19 across the country due to the failure and obstruction of epidemiological research, as well as the submission of false material, the statement said.

The cluster inflicted at least 13.1 billion won ($ 11.3 million) in losses to the government, including 4.6 billion won in Seoul.

The National Health Insurance Service also said it would sue the church for 5.5 billion won ($ 4.7 million) in damages.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported 126 new cases as of midnight Thursday, bringing the total to 22,783 and 377 deaths.