"Not Shincheonji but Ordinary People, Do They Have to Die on the Streets?" Controversial Interview with Bereaved Families

On the afternoon of the 28th, medical staff are seen busily entering the screening clinic set up at Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, which has been converted into a dedicated hospital for COVID-19. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] The family of a deceased victim of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is claiming that "my mother was not a Shincheonji Church member, so she was unable to get tested or treated in time and died," sparking controversy.

B, the daughter of the 14th COVID-19 victim A, said in an interview with 'Yonhap News' on the 29th, "When I called 1339 and the Seo-gu Health Center last Tuesday (the 25th), they said they would not test her because she had not visited China, was not a Shincheonji member, and had no contact with confirmed cases," explaining the situation.

According to the media, A's health deteriorated from the previous day (the 24th). At that time, A was experiencing coughing and muscle pain but had no fever. She was taking painkillers for lung cancer but was still in pain.

B contacted the health center the next day, but the health center responded, "If there is no fever, it is unlikely to be COVID-19, and since testing is mainly for Shincheonji members, even if you come, you will not be tested."

Later, on the 27th, A's health rapidly worsened. A went to a nearby hospital with her husband. At that time, A's body temperature was 38.5 degrees Celsius. A took an ambulance called by the hospital to the Seo-gu Health Center, but the health center said, "There are too many people waiting."

When A's husband asked, "Then what should we do?" the health center replied, "Buy and give her fever reducers to lower the fever, or pay to go to Daegu Medical Center."

On the morning of the 25th, the entrance door of the Seogu Health Center in Daegu City was firmly closed. / Photo by Yonhap News

It is reported that B learned for the first time at this point that COVID-19 related treatment could be received not only at screening clinics but also at Daegu Medical Center.

After examination at Daegu Medical Center, it was confirmed that A was suffering from pneumonia. However, since the COVID-19 confirmation test was said to take 3 to 4 days, she returned home.

In the early morning of the 28th, A showed symptoms of respiratory distress. The family put A in an ambulance and sent her to Daegu Catholic University Hospital, but A died at 6:39 a.m., just one hour after arriving at the hospital.

The COVID-19 positive notification for A, which was said to take 3 to 4 days, was announced that morning. A's confirmed patient number was #2467.

Regarding this, B told the media, "My mother was an elderly person with pneumonia, so she didn't even have a chance," and criticized, "It was called self-quarantine, but it was forced quarantine because the hospital would not accept her."

B expressed anger, saying that if she had been given even the chance to be tested rather than being told testing was mainly for Shincheonji members, she might have been able to do something, and asked, "Do ordinary people who are not Shincheonji members have to die on the streets?"

Meanwhile, the Seo-gu Health Center was reportedly closed on the 25th, the day B first consulted them, due to COVID-19. Five employees at the health center tested positive for COVID-19, and 34 employees and close contacts are under self-quarantine.

Since then, the health center has organized an emergency work team and resumed operation of the screening clinic from the 26th.