Collapsed 'Corona Conscience'... Lies, Assaults on Medical Staff, and Abandonment of Treatment Facilities

Amid All-Out Efforts to Contain COVID-19 Spread, 'Unconscientious Patients' Also Under Scrutiny

On the 8th, a Patient in Their 70s Confirmed at Seoul Baek Hospital

Denied Visiting Daegu Five Times

After Confirmation, Admitted "I Live in Daegu... The Church's Associate Pastor Confirmed"

Seoul Baik Hospital closed part of its ward after a patient admitted to the gastroenterology department tested positive for COVID-19.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] While medical staff and health authorities are fighting desperately against the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), some patients have drawn criticism for unconscientious behavior such as hiding their visits to high-risk areas or contact with specific groups, refusing admission to residential treatment centers for mild cases, and fleeing.

◆Zero Confirmed Cases in Jung-gu, Seoul... 'Did Not Come from Daegu' Lies Trigger Hospital Infection 'Red Alert'＝According to Seoul Baek Hospital located in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 9th, patient A (78, female), who had been hospitalized at the hospital, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the morning of the previous day (8th), leading to the closure of some wards including outpatient and emergency rooms. Until this patient was identified, Jung-gu, Seoul had zero confirmed COVID-19 cases, but with a confirmed patient emerging within the hospital, the hospital must now focus its quarantine efforts on preventing in-hospital infections.

This patient was admitted to the hospital on the 3rd of this month, complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal discomfort. On the same day, she was refused admission at the scheduled gastroenterology hospital because she came from Daegu, so she came to Baek Hospital. Afterward, patient A concealed her visit to Daegu and lied about it.

According to the hospital, the hospital staff checked five times, including on the 3rd when patient A was admitted, to confirm whether she had visited Daegu, but she denied it. She listed her address as her daughter's residence in Mapo-gu, Seoul. When she talked about Daegu-related topics and showed respiratory symptoms in her hospital room, an X-ray and chest CT were performed on the 6th. On the 7th, she underwent a COVID-19 test. Eventually, after being confirmed positive on the previous day, patient A admitted that she lives in Daegu and that the associate pastor of the church she attends was also confirmed positive.

Currently, Seoul Baek Hospital has implemented measures such as prohibiting patient admissions and discharges, restricting all staff movements, and blocking visitors at the hospital entrance. According to the hospital, patient A was confirmed positive for COVID-19 at 7 a.m. on the 8th and was isolated in a negative pressure room before being transferred to another nationally designated hospital in the afternoon. Due to patient A's lies, dozens of medical staff and hospital employees were exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection. Seoul Baek Hospital plans to file a complaint with judicial authorities against patient A for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and other charges.

On the 19th of last month, a suspected COVID-19 patient was urgently transported to Kyungpook National University Hospital in Jung-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the Same Day in Daegu, Shincheonji Church Member Assaults Medical Staff and Flees

Refuses Admission to Residential Treatment Center for Mild Cases

Grabs Medical Staff by Hair and Escapes Daegu Medical Center

Apprehended Within an Hour... Daegu City Plans to File Charges

◆Shincheonji Church Member Pulls Medical Staff's Hair and Flees Amid 'COVID-19 Battle'＝On the 8th, B (67), a confirmed COVID-19 patient and member of the Shincheonji Daegu Church, refused to be admitted to a residential treatment center for mild cases, caused a disturbance, fled, and was later apprehended. Health authorities plan to file charges against B for obstruction of business, assault, and violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act after legal review.

According to Daegu City, at around 8:20 p.m. on the 8th, COVID-19 confirmed patient B, who was being transferred to the Kyungpook National University Residential Treatment Center, caused a disturbance in front of the center. B was confirmed to be a member of the Shincheonji Daegu Church.

When B caused the disturbance, health authorities initially brought him back to Daegu Medical Center, where he had been isolated. However, during the transfer process within the hospital, B grabbed the hair of a nurse wearing protective clothing and fled.

At the time, police and others were nearby but reportedly could not respond properly due to the lack of protective clothing. Police officers wearing protective gear apprehended B near Daegu Medical Center around 9:20 p.m. and re-admitted him to the hospital room. Police and Daegu City are investigating the detailed circumstances of the incident.

On the day B caused the disturbance, the Shincheonji Daegu Church warned its members that "those who do not cooperate with quarantine measures will be prohibited from attending worship." In a statement, the Shincheonji Daegu Church urged members to comply with guidelines such as "no leaving self-quarantine, mandatory testing for asymptomatic individuals, mandatory transfer to hospital or residential treatment center if recommended, and prohibition of outings even after the self-quarantine period ends."

It is particularly concerning that assaults and infection threats against medical staff and health authorities, who are fighting a 'war' on the frontlines of COVID-19 infection medical sites, are occurring repeatedly. On the 28th of last month, a woman in her 20s caused controversy in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, by spitting in the face of a public health official who was transporting her to a hospital.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.