"Feeling Unwell" 70s Patient Receiving IV at Hospital During COVID Quarantine Fined 3 Million Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A man in his 70s who visited a hospital to receive an IV drip during his COVID-19 self-quarantine period was sentenced to a fine in the first trial.

According to the legal community on the 10th, Judge Lee Donghee of the Criminal Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Court recently sentenced Ms. A (73, female), who was indicted for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, to a fine of 3 million won.

Earlier, Ms. A was brought to trial on charges of violating quarantine measures by leaving her residence in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, for about an hour and 30 minutes from 11 a.m. on May 31 to visit a hospital.

At that time, Ms. A was investigated to have said, "I am not feeling well and want to receive an IV drip," and visited the hospital. Her husband, who had close contact with her, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 and hospitalized, so she was required to self-quarantine from May 19 to June 2. After receiving an IV drip at the hospital and taking a COVID-19 test the next day on June 1, Ms. A was confirmed positive a day later.

Article 79-3 of the current Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act stipulates that "any person who violates the measures taken by the Minister of Health and Welfare or local government heads to hospitalize or isolate suspected infectious disease patients at an appropriate place for a certain period for the prevention of infectious diseases shall be punished by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won."

The court ruled, "The defendant received a quarantine notice according to the law but left the quarantine location, which is a serious offense," and found Ms. A guilty. However, the court added, "The defendant admitted to the facts of the crime and has no prior criminal record," and "Fortunately, no additional infections caused by the defendant's violation of quarantine measures have been found. Considering other sentencing factors such as the defendant's age and the circumstances leading to this case, the sentence was determined."

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