Daejeon 'n-th Infection' and Secondary Damage Spread... Anonymity Guaranteed During Testing, Reports Filed if Investigation Obstructed

Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong is announcing the status and measures of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the region at Daejeon City Hall. Photo by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) linked to multi-level marketing and door-to-door sales businesses in Daejeon is showing little sign of slowing down. In particular, Daejeon has recently been stigmatized as a COVID-19 cluster infection area, leading to unwarranted avoidance by other regions, and there are cases where confirmed patients suffer mental distress due to excessive personal attacks. Health authorities are concerned that such secondary damage could actually hinder efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to Daejeon City on the 25th, as of 10 a.m. the previous day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the region was 101, of which 55 were confirmed positive between the 15th and 24th of this month.

This means an average of 5 to 6 people were infected daily with COVID-19, and most of the confirmed cases during this period were related to or had contact with individuals connected to suspected cryptocurrency-related multi-level marketing and door-to-door sales businesses located in Orange Town, Goejeong-dong, Seo-gu, and Dunsan Electronics Town, Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon.

Additionally, secondary and tertiary infections have consecutively occurred among unspecified many at multi-use facilities such as Wellbeing Sauna in Sajung-dong, Jung-gu, and Gyeongha Oncheon Sauna in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong-gu, leading to ongoing ‘n-th generation infections’ not only in Daejeon but also in adjacent areas like Sejong and Chungnam.

The problem lies in the fact that as Daejeon is identified as a major area for ‘n-th generation infections,’ unexpected secondary damage continues. A letter written by a confirmed patient from a hospital bed reflects this secondary damage situation.

In the letter, which Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong disclosed on Facebook, it was written, “I did not create or spread COVID-19, and I am a victim who was infected without knowing it myself, yet I have become a criminal condemned by society. Even if I recover, how can I hold my head up living under the harsh gaze of citizens?”

It also stated, “My family’s personal information was disclosed, and various rumors spread. The lady living on the second floor cried and complained to me that ‘the people in the same building don’t even sell food to me at the restaurant,’” adding, “No words are needed, there is no way, the future is dark, my hands and feet tremble, endless tears fall, and I feel like I am falling into hell.”

Secondary damage is not limited to within the region. A(54, Jung-gu, Daejeon), who visited an ancestral grave in Yeongdong, Chungbuk last weekend and then went to a nearby restaurant, felt his face flush upon hearing an announcement from the village chief’s voice during the meal. The announcement urged people to avoid contact with those who had visited Daejeon as much as possible.

Also, B(49, Seo-gu, Daejeon), who recently visited Cheonan for work, felt uncomfortable due to the overt caution from a business partner. B said, “In a situation where I could not avoid face-to-face meetings with the company, I felt uncomfortable with the counterpart’s probing questions about my personal health and the atmosphere in Daejeon. I understand their concerns, but their blatant words and actions were not entirely welcome.”

The city and health authorities are wary that such an atmosphere could inadvertently fuel the spread of infectious diseases within the region. This is because citizens, conscious of secondary damage, might delay or avoid COVID-19 testing to prevent identity exposure.

Regarding this, Mayor Heo Tae-jeong of Daejeon said, “It is very regrettable that cases of excessive personal attacks on confirmed patients and indiscriminate regional caution causing harm are being reported one after another. I hope that confirmed patients are not targets of blame due to COVID-19 and that Daejeon citizens are not subjected to exclusion in other regions.”

In particular, Mayor Heo pointed out, “Recently, multi-level marketing and door-to-door sales businesses have been identified as links in ‘n-th generation infections,’ and many people avoid testing out of fear of blame when they suspect they might be infected. However, this will ultimately become an obstacle to preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

He added, “The city will allow citizens who have visited problematic multi-level marketing or door-to-door sales businesses or who are judged to be at risk of infection to get tested anonymously. Conversely, if anyone intentionally avoids testing or obstructs epidemiological investigations, we will respond strongly with legal action.”

Meanwhile, the city has already filed a complaint against a woman in her 50s who did not properly disclose her movement path during the epidemiological investigation for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and is planning to file additional complaints against two others.

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