Gwangju City Reports 12 Confirmed Cases for False Statements to Police

Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju City giving a briefing on the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] A confirmed COVID-19 case number 60 from Songpa, Seoul, who concealed the fact of visiting the Gwangju area and caused confusion in the early quarantine efforts against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been reported to the police.

On the 19th, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated in a briefing, "We have filed a complaint with the Gwangju Police Agency today against the Songpa case number 60 patient, who caused the spread of infection through false statements, in accordance with Article 18 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. We will also actively consider claiming compensation in the future."

He continued, "As a result, 600 people, including 342 elementary school students, were tested just yesterday, and 128 people are under self-quarantine, prohibited from going out or having external contact for 14 days. Due to the false statements of the Songpa case number 60 patient, the golden time was missed, and secondary infections have already begun. It is difficult to predict how many additional tested individuals, confirmed cases, and self-quarantined persons will emerge."

The mayor emphasized, "Local infections transmitted through personal meetings and close contact, like in this case, cannot be prevented no matter how meticulous the quarantine authorities' efforts are. If all citizens do not become the main agents of quarantine and follow the quarantine rules, it is impossible to block the spread of local infections."

Previously, the Songpa case number 60 patient visited Gwangju from the 10th to the 12th, meeting many relatives, and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 15th.

However, the patient did not inform relatives of the infection and concealed the fact of visiting Gwangju during the epidemiological investigation, causing confusion in quarantine efforts.

Subsequently, in Gwangju, a total of 12 people tested positive for COVID-19, including 9 relatives who had contact with the Songpa case number 60 patient and 3 others who had contact with those relatives.

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