Prime Minister Jeong: "Strict Response to Quarantine Obstruction... Claim for Damages if Additional Infections Occur" (Update)

"Social Distancing Level 3 Not Yet Raised... Urgent Need to Curb Spread"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 19th, "The government will strictly hold legal responsibility for acts that obstruct diagnostic testing and epidemiological investigations conducted by quarantine authorities." He also expressed, "We will actively exercise claims for reimbursement of medical expenses and compensation for damages caused by additional infections resulting from such acts."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Prime Minister Chung said, "We must quickly identify and isolate infected individuals to prevent further spread and avoid serious situations like those in Daegu and Gyeongbuk."

He added, "Especially in the situation where nationwide spread of infection originating from Sarang Jeil Church is a concern, the church has not submitted an accurate list, and diagnostic testing has not yet been completed." He instructed, "Now, time is of the essence. The Seoul Metropolitan Government should cooperate with the police and prosecution to secure an accurate list as soon as possible through administrative investigations and other legal measures."

Regarding calls to raise the social distancing level to Level 3, Prime Minister Chung said, "The current situation does not meet the criteria for Level 3," and mentioned, "If raised to Level 3, gatherings of more than 10 people would be prohibited, causing tremendous shock to the everyday economy."

He continued, "The urgent task now is to curb the spread so that the situation does not escalate to Level 3," and emphasized, "I repeatedly ask for the active cooperation of the public and mature civic consciousness to overcome this critical moment well."

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