Pyeongtaek City to 'Press Charges' Against 50s Female COVID-19 Patient Who Hid Dining with Acquaintance

Acquaintance Tested Positive After Dining Together Following Return from the Philippines
Pyeongtaek City Suspects Intentional Omission
US Arrivals Violating Self-Quarantine Rules Also Prosecuted

On the 27th of last month, when enhanced quarantine measures for arrivals from the United States to block the overseas inflow of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were implemented, an arrival from the United States at Incheon International Airport is undergoing a COVID-19 test at an open-air screening clinic outdoors. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province has decided to file charges against a woman in her 50s who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for omitting her movement history during the epidemiological investigation.

On the 31st of last month, Pyeongtaek City announced that Ms. A, a woman in her 50s who tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling to the Philippines, failed to disclose to the epidemiological investigator that she had dined with an acquaintance, and the city plans to take legal action.

Previously, Ms. A, who works at Jisan-dong 123 Korean Medicine Clinic, traveled to the Philippines with four colleagues and returned on the 23rd of last month, then tested positive on the 28th.

It was investigated that on the 25th, Ms. A had lunch with Mr. B, a man in his 50s and an acquaintance who resides in Kumho Eoullim 1 Complex, Yongidong.

Additionally, Mr. B, who had lunch with Ms. A that day, tested positive for COVID-19 and was classified as Pyeongtaek City's 18th confirmed case.

A Pyeongtaek City Public Health Center official told Yonhap News, "Ms. A was found to have had nine contacts during the epidemiological investigation," adding, "However, Mr. B, who was newly confirmed positive on that day, was not on the contact list, leading to suspicion that Ms. A deliberately omitted her movement history, so we have decided to file charges."

Meanwhile, Pyeongtaek City also plans to file charges against Mr. C (not confirmed positive), who, after arriving from the United States on the 17th of last month and while under self-quarantine, visited a convenience store in front of his house without notifying authorities.

According to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, deliberately omitting or concealing movement history during an epidemiological investigation is punishable by up to two years imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won, and violating self-quarantine rules is punishable by a fine of up to 3 million won.