COVID-19 Prevention's Another Threat: 'Lies'

Some Confirmed Cases Hide Attendance at Gatherings and Hot Springs
Later Detected Through GPS Tracking

On the 25th, COVID-19 specimen collection was conducted for church members at a church in Buk-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] A man in his 40s living in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, is the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the region related to the Liberation Day rally in downtown Seoul. According to Gwangju City on the 31st, this man is currently reported to the police on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act due to false statements. Classified as patient number 252 in the city, he tested positive for COVID-19 on the 21st and told health authorities that he had visited a water play facility (spa) in Naju, Jeollanam-do. The spa, which attracts about 1,000 visitors daily, and the local community were thrown into turmoil over concerns of further transmission. However, analysis of GPS data by authorities revealed that this statement was false. It was found that he had attended the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally, not the spa. In the urgent situation where COVID-19 triggered by religious facilities in the metropolitan area and downtown rallies is spreading nationwide, such 'lies' by confirmed patients are slowing down the process of tracing contacts and blocking further transmission.

Reported under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act...
But further transmission is delayed

In Gwangju, a family of three living in Wolsan-dong also concealed their attendance at the Liberation Day rally and were later caught. They initially stated during epidemiological investigation that they had visited a coastal road in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, on the 15th, but GPS investigation revealed that they had been to Gwanghwamun. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of the previous day, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the August 15 Seoul downtown rally is 369. Of these, 198 are in the metropolitan area and 171 in non-metropolitan areas, with 50 related cases in Gwangju, making it the second highest after Daegu (53) among non-metropolitan areas.

Jeju Island is also on high alert due to false statements by confirmed patients. A pastor couple, patients number 29 and 33 in the region, visited a hot spring in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo City, on the 23rd but concealed this fact. Their detailed movements, confirmed positive on the 24th, were only identified on the 28th after GPS data verification.

On the 29th and 30th, three additional confirmed cases were reported who had been at the hot spring during the time the pastor couple visited. It is known that about 300 visitors were present at the site on that day. Health authorities explained, "The pastor's wife avoided giving statements because she had no COVID-19 related symptoms and provided false information about her movement and contact details." Authorities plan to report her for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

The Gwanghwamun area is partially restricted due to a gathering. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Gyeongnam Province to Report Woman in Her 40s from Changwon
Claims for Medical, Quarantine, and Business Damages in the Hundreds of Millions Won?Will It Raise Awareness?

Gyeongnam Province announced the previous day that it would report a woman in her 40s living in Changwon for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and claim compensation. This is because she concealed her attendance at the Liberation Day rally and delayed testing, causing damage in the region to snowball. Seven additional infections occurred among her family and contacts after she was confirmed positive on the 27th, and about 2,000 people, including 1,471 employees at her workplace and partner companies and 497 students and staff at the high school her daughter attends, had to undergo diagnostic testing.

Gyeongnam Province and Changwon City plan to claim compensation considering the confirmed patient's medical expenses, quarantine costs, screening clinic installation fees, and business damages. Looking at a previous case where Gwangju City claimed compensation from a confirmed patient in Songpa-gu, Seoul, who concealed their movement, the amount could exceed 200 million won. Jeju Island also filed a lawsuit for damages worth 130 million won in March against a mother and daughter living in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, who traveled locally despite having COVID-19 symptoms.

Despite government and health authorities' appeals, damage caused by such false statements from confirmed patients continues. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized, "A single person's lie causes enormous social costs and innocent people pay a heavy price. The government will strictly hold legal responsibility for acts that obstruct epidemiological investigations, including reporting, recovering medical expenses, and claiming compensation, to prevent similar cases from happening again."

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases was 248, maintaining the 200s for two consecutive days following 299 the previous day. There were 238 local cases and 10 imported cases. The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation increased by 70 to 14,973. Currently, there are 79 severe or critical patients, an increase of 9 from the previous day. One existing patient died, raising the cumulative death toll from 323 to 324.

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