Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, "Strict legal action upon illegal confirmation... Please actively cooperate with quarantine measures"
In front of Baek Hospital in Jung-gu, Seoul, which was closed due to a patient confirmed with COVID-19 after being hospitalized while hiding the fact that they lived in Daegu, medical staff, hospital officials, and police were busy moving around on the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police have launched an investigation into a woman in her 70s who, pretending to be a resident of Daegu, was admitted to Seoul Baek Hospital located in Jung-gu, Seoul, and spread the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) within the hospital.
Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated in a written briefing on the 9th, "The Seoul Jungbu Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Seoul Baek Hospital, has started an investigation and is verifying the facts, including whether there was any false statement during the medical treatment process."
Commissioner Min added, "We will cooperate with health authorities and medical institutions to promptly and strictly take legal action if illegal activities are confirmed," and emphasized, "We ask the public to actively cooperate with the government's COVID-19 quarantine measures."
On the previous day, A (78, female), who was hospitalized at Seoul Baek Hospital, was confirmed positive for COVID-19, leading to the closure of some wards including outpatient and emergency rooms. The patient was admitted to the hospital on the 3rd, and it was confirmed that she concealed the fact that she lived in Daegu after being refused admission by another hospital. A revealed only after being diagnosed with COVID-19 that she lived in Daegu and that the associate pastor of her church had also tested positive.
Currently, Seoul Baek Hospital is enforcing measures such as prohibiting patient admissions and discharges, restricting movement of all staff, and blocking visitors at the hospital entrance. Additionally, they plan to file a complaint against A for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.
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