"Police Strictly Respond: Arrest Warrants Requested for Confirmed Cases Leaving Isolation Sites"

873 Referred for Prosecution for Violating the Infectious Disease Control Act
12 Seriously Charged Detained
Strict Punishment for Organized Obstruction of Epidemiological Investigations

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As cases of Seoul Seongbuk-gu Sarang Jeil Church members who tested positive for COVID-19 leaving their quarantine locations and obstructing epidemiological investigations continue, the police are taking strict measures such as applying for arrest warrants against these crimes that hinder quarantine efforts.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated on the 20th, "Various illegal acts related to COVID-19, such as refusal to undergo testing and violation of quarantine measures, are serious offenses that nullify the efforts of the public and government to prevent the spread of infectious diseases." He added, "We will firmly enforce legal procedures and judicial measures," and urged, "We ask for active cooperation with the quarantine measures of the health authorities."

According to the National Police Agency, as of today, 1,509 people have been investigated for violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including quarantine violations and obstruction of epidemiological investigations related to COVID-19. Among them, 873 have been sent to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment, and 507 are still under investigation. Of these, 12 individuals with serious charges have been detained.

In response to recent cases of COVID-19 confirmed patients leaving their quarantine locations, the police have deployed a rapid response team consisting of 8,559 officers nationwide. Previously, a man in his 50s, a Sarang Jeil Church member who was receiving quarantine treatment at Gyeonggi-do Medical Center Paju Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, escaped from the hospital but was apprehended by the police after 25 hours. In Pohang, Gyeongbuk, a woman in her 40s, also a Sarang Jeil Church member, who refused hospital transfer after testing positive, bit her husband's arm and fled but was caught within 4 hours.

The police classify such 'post-confirmation quarantine violations' as serious illegal acts that threaten public health and plan to apply for arrest warrants once treatment is completed, applying a zero-tolerance policy. Additional charges such as obstruction of official duties will be applied for illegal acts like assaulting quarantine officials or police officers while refusing quarantine measures.

Furthermore, strict measures will be taken against obstruction of epidemiological investigations and violations of assembly bans. In particular, for organized obstruction of epidemiological investigations, the police will identify the masterminds and hold them strictly accountable, applying for arrest warrants in cases of serious responsibility.

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