COVID-19 Self-Quarantine: Underestimating It Can Lead to Serious Consequences

[Image source=Yonhap News] Mr. A, in his 60s, who is accused of violating self-quarantine related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is leaving the courtroom after a pre-arrest detention hearing at the Seoul Eastern District Court on the 14th of last month.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Self-quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, during the process of overcoming COVID-19, cases of violating and escaping from self-quarantine measures have surged. The police regard violations of self-quarantine measures as serious crimes and emphasize strict punishment. According to the revised Infectious Disease Prevention Act, those who violate the quarantine or hospitalization guidelines of the health authorities are subject to imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

A (68), who left the self-quarantine location twice and went to a sauna, became the first case to be severely punished for violating self-quarantine measures. A entered the country from the United States on the 10th of last month and ignored self-quarantine the next day, wandering around the Songpa-gu area of Seoul. Around 2 p.m., the police returned him home within about 30 minutes. Despite being sent home, A visited a sauna and a restaurant again and was arrested by the police. The police applied for an arrest warrant for A, and he was eventually detained.

On the 14th of last month, Kwon Deok-jin, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Eastern District Court, held a pre-arrest hearing (warrant review) for A, who was charged with violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, and issued an arrest warrant.

Judge Kwon explained the reason for issuing the warrant, stating, "There are grounds for detention as the suspect has no fixed residence and there is a risk of flight. Considering the degree of violation in this case, the necessity of detention is also recognized."

On the 18th of last month in Uijeongbu, the second case of detention due to violation of self-quarantine measures occurred. B (27) was detained for unauthorized departure from his residence during self-quarantine.

B was hospitalized on the 8th floor ward of Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University for pancreatitis treatment, discharged, and classified as a self-quarantine subject. A cluster infection of COVID-19 occurred on the 8th floor of this hospital.

On the 14th of last month, he left his home in Howon-dong without permission and disappeared, but two days later, he briefly turned on his phone in front of a convenience store in Uijeongbu-dong, where police detected the signal and arrested him. It was confirmed that after leaving home, B wandered along the Jungnangcheon riverside, where many people exercise and take walks. However, it was found that he did not visit multi-use facilities.

Afterward, B was quarantined at a temporary shelter in Yangju City and underwent a COVID-19 diagnostic test. However, he escaped again and was caught in a nearby mountain about an hour later. After investigating B, the police applied for an arrest warrant. The warrant judge at the Uijeongbu District Court issued an arrest warrant for A on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, citing "risk of flight."

Besides these two cases, the police also applied for arrest warrants for a man in his 20s living in Jungnang-gu who left his home without permission four times and a woman in her 30s who left her home without her phone during early morning hours. This is in line with the policy to strictly respond to violations of self-quarantine. However, these two individuals avoided detention as the court dismissed the arrest warrants. As of the 26th of last month, 209 people have been investigated by the police for violating self-quarantine measures, and 45 have been sent to the prosecution with recommendations for indictment.

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