"From the 30th of Next Month, 20-Day Suspension for 3rd Mask Non-Compliance at Infection Transmission Risk Facilities"

Strengthening Personal Data Protection When Disclosing Infectious Disease Patient Movement Paths

On the 8th, the second day of the new 'Social Distancing' Level 1 implementation, a mask-wearing notice is posted at a shopping mall in downtown Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Starting from the 30th of next month, when disclosing the movement paths of infectious disease patients, personal information such as name, gender, and age will be excluded to protect privacy. Additionally, if a facility or place at risk of infection transmission violates quarantine guidelines such as mask-wearing three times, a 20-day suspension of operations may be imposed.

On the 9th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (Director Jeong Eun-kyung) announced that it will publicly notify the amendment of the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act containing these details on the 10th.

This amendment was prepared to stipulate delegated matters and detailed provisions necessary for enforcement following the revision of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act last September.

The amendment to the Enforcement Decree defines personal information to be excluded from disclosure during infectious disease crises. When disclosing the movement paths of infectious disease patients, personal information unrelated to the infectious disease, such as name, gender, age, and addresses below the eup, myeon, dong level, will be excluded to strengthen privacy protection even in infectious disease crisis situations.

It also stipulates the targets and methods of psychological support such as for COVID-19 depression. Among field response personnel, the psychological support targets are specified to include medical personnel, quarantine officers, and epidemiological investigators mobilized during the infectious disease outbreak period, and it allows the delegation of psychological support tasks to the National Trauma Center, Mental Health Welfare Centers, and psychiatric medical institutions.

Standards for suspension of operations due to violation of quarantine guidelines have also been established. For facilities or places that violate orders to comply with quarantine guidelines such as mask-wearing, administrative measures have been detailed to allow a warning for the first violation, a 10-day suspension for the second violation, and a 20-day suspension for the third violation.

In addition, detailed provisions for the establishment and operation of the Infectious Disease Management Integrated Information System, which efficiently utilizes data necessary for infectious disease prevention, management, and treatment tasks, have been stipulated, reflecting legal amendments such as the expansion of authority of the Minister of Health and Welfare and local government heads.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to finalize the amendment after collecting public opinions during the legislative notification period.

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