British COVID-19 Patient Living in Suwon Roams Without Mask... City Says "Will Hold Responsible"

On the 27th, when enhanced quarantine measures for arrivals from the United States began, passengers arriving on a flight from Los Angeles, USA, were exiting the gate at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. People with suspected COVID-19 symptoms must undergo diagnostic testing, and asymptomatic individuals are required to self-quarantine for two weeks. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 20th, a British national who entered South Korea was found to have caused multiple contacts by moving around without wearing a mask before and after undergoing a COVID-19 test. The patient, who lives in Suwon, ignored the self-quarantine recommendation even after specimen collection for the test and went out. In response, the Suwon city authorities stated that they will hold him strictly accountable.

According to Suwon city on the 28th, the patient is a British man in his 30s living in an officetel in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon. Symptoms such as coughing reportedly began on the 14th. According to the movement path of this confirmed patient, which the city disclosed the previous afternoon, he entered South Korea from Thailand on the 20th and returned home without wearing a mask. He visited Yongin late that afternoon and was also without a mask when returning home early the next day.

Afterward, he traveled to another area by riding with an acquaintance’s car and used the subway in the afternoon. The following day, he rode a bicycle to several places without wearing a mask and returned home, then visited a nearby park on a motorcycle in the afternoon.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, he visited the Yeongtong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic for a COVID-19 test. The city confirmed that he was not wearing a mask even during the test. Prior to that, while staying at home, epidemiological investigation revealed that about two people had contact with him without masks.

On the 24th, the day after the test, he visited a screen golf course near his home and came into contact with three people without wearing a mask. That afternoon, he received a positive test result and was subsequently isolated and hospitalized at Seongnam Hospital of Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center. The city reported that disinfection of his home, surroundings, and visited places has been completed. Seven people who had contact with him from entry until before isolation were notified to self-quarantine and specimen collection was arranged.

As imported cases increased, the government strengthened quarantine procedures by conducting COVID-19 tests on all foreigners and nationals entering from Europe starting on the 22nd. From the 27th, self-quarantine was made mandatory for arrivals from the United States.

Suwon city stated, "After entering from overseas, he visited multiple places without wearing a mask and caused many contacts," adding, "He ignored the self-quarantine recommendation and went out even after specimen collection." They emphasized, "We plan to hold him strictly accountable in the future."