"Revealed as Self-Quarantine Subject" The Unscrupulous Reality Amid COVID-19 Fear

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] "Actually, I am subject to self-quarantine." "I attended a service at the Shincheonji Daegu Church." As the entire country is engulfed in fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), irresponsible attitudes that spread anxiety in various places are causing public outrage.

According to health authorities on the 24th, a man in his 20s who collapsed at a large bookstore in Gwangju the previous day and caused a commotion by fleeing from a screening clinic tested negative for COVID-19. It is known that during the process of being transported to the hospital by 119 due to fever symptoms, the man said things like "I attended a service at the Shincheonji Daegu Church" and "I frequently came into contact with Chinese people."

Accordingly, the rescue team classified Mr. A as a suspected COVID-19 patient considering his statements and symptoms, and the bookstore where Mr. A collapsed and his contacts were immediately temporarily closed and placed under self-quarantine.

However, the situation escalated when Mr. A fled while being guided through the testing procedure. He turned off his mobile phone and disappeared for about an hour before returning belatedly. The test result was negative. The police are investigating the background of his escape and are reviewing whether to apply charges such as obstruction of official duties or minor offense penalties. The Shincheonji Church told health authorities that Mr. A is not a member.

There was also an incident where a daughter who donated part of her liver to her mother revealed immediately after surgery that she herself was a Shincheonji member and subject to COVID-19 self-quarantine, leading to the closure of the ward.

According to Daegu Catholic Hospital, Ms. B disclosed to medical staff on the 18th, right after her liver transplant surgery, that she had been notified by health authorities to self-quarantine and requested a COVID-19 test. As a result of the hospital's test, she tested positive. Ms. B was isolated in a negative pressure room within the hospital, and 38 medical staff and employees involved in the surgery were also quarantined and tested for COVID-19.

Health authorities report that voice phishing and smishing attempts are also increasing, including impersonating confirmed patients to demand money over the phone. This includes cases where individuals falsely claim to be confirmed patients to threaten self-employed businesses such as restaurants or demand money or app installations for quarantine purposes. Attempts to manipulate phone numbers to impersonate COVID-19-related health and medical institutions have also recently increased. Smishing messages disguised as COVID-19 information, such as "free mask distribution" and "delivery delays due to COVID-19," have reached 9,688 cases (cumulative) as of the 15th.

Some online markets have also been found to engage in unscrupulous behavior by selling masks at prices more than ten times higher than the previous 100 won per mask.