Public Calls Grow for Strict Punishment of Songpa Case 60 for 'False Statements' Claiming "I Didn't Go to Gwangju"

COVID-19 Confirmed Case Songpa No. 60 'False Statement'... 12 Related Cases Confirmed
Civilians Urge "Strict Punishment to Prevent Recurrence"
City Reports Patient No. 60 to Police... Considering Claim for Compensation

The mobile screening clinic set up in the parking lot of Gyesu Elementary School in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, on the afternoon of the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, public calls for strict punishment are growing after it was revealed that the 60th confirmed case in Songpa, Seoul, concealed the fact that they had visited Gwangju during the epidemiological investigation.

According to health authorities on the 19th, a total of 12 confirmed cases have been traced to patient A, the 60th confirmed case in Songpa, from the 18th until now. Patient A was a contact of patient number 179 in Bucheon City and underwent specimen testing at the Songpa-gu Public Health Center screening clinic on the 14th. The next day (the 15th), they were confirmed positive and transferred to Seoul Medical Center.

The problem is that patient A did not disclose their visit to Gwangju during the epidemiological investigation. Missing this 'golden time' for quarantine raises concerns about the potential for a large-scale infection spread.

It was found that patient A stayed in Gwangju from the 10th to the 12th to discuss family matters with relatives and had three meals with 15 relatives. Even after being confirmed positive for COVID-19, they did not inform their relatives of the diagnosis nor disclose their visit to Gwangju to health authorities.

Patient A only reported this fact to health authorities on the 17th, two days after the confirmation. Since relatives who had contact with patient A attended schools, workplaces, and used public transportation from the 10th to the 18th, a local infection emergency was triggered.

On the afternoon of the 19th, the shopping street in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju is quiet. Secondary infections have occurred from patient number 60 in Songpa, who stayed in Gwangju for three days, causing health authorities to be on alert. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 19th, Gwangju City filed a complaint with the police against patient A for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Those who violate self-quarantine rules may face penalties ranging from a fine of up to 3 million won to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won. If false statements are made or facts are intentionally omitted or concealed during epidemiological investigations, penalties can include imprisonment of up to two years or fines of up to 20 million won.

The government announced that as of the 13th of last month, 545 people who violated self-quarantine or assembly ban orders were prosecuted, with 10 of them detained. According to reports, the police investigated 46 people for obstructing epidemiological investigations and sent 18 for prosecution, with 3 of them detained and prosecuted.

Despite these measures, citizens raised their voices, saying, "The punishment is too lenient compared to the risk of increasing community infection." They argue that although punishment is possible under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the severity needs to be strengthened.

B, a worker in their 30s, said, "The national disaster situation has continued for over half a year, and lying during epidemiological investigations should be considered a threat to the lives of the people." They criticized, "Who will compensate for the administrative resources and medical staff labor wasted in the process?"

They added, "There are cases where people are reported for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, but many do not lead to punishment. If the punishment level is raised and severe penalties are imposed on such people as an example, it can prevent such incidents from happening again."

On the afternoon of the 19th, a notice indicating the completion of disinfection was posted at a commercial building in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju.
Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the city plans to actively consider filing a claim for damages after reporting patient number 60 to the police.

At a briefing held at Gwangju City Hall on the 19th, Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "Gwangju has turned red again due to the spread of local infections. Eleven confirmed cases occurred in one day due to the 60th confirmed case in Songpa." He added, "The continuous increase in confirmed cases is due to one person's reckless visit to relatives in Gwangju, close contact, and concealment of the visit after the positive diagnosis."

The mayor emphasized, "Due to the false statements of the 60th confirmed case in Songpa, the golden time was missed, and secondary infections have already started. It is difficult to predict how many additional testers, confirmed cases, and self-quarantined individuals will emerge. We have filed a complaint with the Gwangju Police Agency today against the 60th confirmed case in Songpa for causing infection spread through false statements under Article 18 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act."

Earlier, the government announced plans to strengthen processing standards so that suspects in COVID-19 quarantine obstruction cases could face imprisonment or fines up to the maximum limit.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at an emergency meeting of related ministers on the 9th of last month at the Government Seoul Office on Sejong-daero, Seoul, "To block the spread of group infections in the metropolitan area, we will discuss measures to strictly hold individuals and business owners accountable for not properly following quarantine rules." He added, "Business owners or individuals who violate administrative orders for high-risk facilities must be prosecuted without exception."

Prime Minister Chung also said, "The Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency should promptly investigate and strictly handle acts that obstruct or violate epidemiological investigations or quarantine measures, as well as intentional or gross negligence in following quarantine rules at workplaces or facilities." He added, "If confirmed cases emerge or infection spreads due to violations of quarantine rules, actively consider filing claims for treatment and quarantine costs."

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