In Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, a boiler repair technician was placed under self-quarantine after visiting a customer to repair a boiler at the customer's request. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Nahana] In Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, a boiler repair technician was placed under self-quarantine after learning that the customer was a confirmed COVID-19 case only after completing the repair work upon the customer's request.
According to SBS and News1 on the 23rd, boiler repair technician Mr. A visited a house in Bucheon last week at the request of a customer to repair a boiler.
About 20 minutes after the repair was completed, customer Mr. B handed over a card to pay the cost and said, "I am a confirmed COVID-19 patient, and since you have been in contact with me, you should get tested."
Mr. B, a tenant of the house, had requested the landlord to repair the boiler earlier this month but was informed of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in the meantime and was waiting to be admitted to a residential treatment center. It is reported that Mr. B responded that he "was flustered" about letting the boiler repair technician into the house.
Although boiler repair technician Mr. A tested negative, he was classified as a close contact and was ordered to self-quarantine for two weeks. Mr. A expressed concern, saying, "I am worried about the livelihood of my family of four," and added, "I earn most of my annual income during the winter, but the government support of 1.2 million won is less than half of my monthly income."
Health authorities are reviewing whether to file charges against Mr. B for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. A city official said, "The key to applying charges is whether there was intent or not, and in this case, further investigation seems necessary."
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