Gwangju COVID-19 Case No. 118 Found at Jeonnam Construction Site 10 Hours After Disappearance

Health Authorities Review Contact Tracing and Consider Filing Charges for 'Infectious Disease Law Violations'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The whereabouts of a man in his 60s who went missing after being notified of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in Gwangju have been secured.

According to health authorities on the 7th, patient A, classified as Gwangju case number 118, was found at a construction site in Yeonggwang, Jeonnam, 10 hours after going missing.

A was contacted about his positive COVID-19 test around 11:30 PM the previous day but then lost contact. Health authorities sent a 119 emergency ambulance to his home to transport him to the hospital, but A is reported to have turned off his mobile phone and left his residence.

Police, responding to the health authorities' request for cooperation, deployed maximum available personnel including search dogs to conduct a search.

At the time of discovery, A was reportedly working as a day laborer at the construction site.

A was said to be more worried about not being able to earn money during the quarantine period than about the infection itself.

Health authorities are identifying contacts during the approximately 10 hours A was missing and are reviewing whether to file charges for violating the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act."