[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] It was confirmed on the 3rd that a police station employee, who was self-quarantining according to internal police quarantine guidelines, invited a colleague to his home to have a meal together and was later diagnosed with COVID-19, leading to an internal investigation.
Sergeant B of Police Station A at Anseong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province was instructed to self-quarantine for two weeks (from the 13th to the 26th of last month) after a colleague tested positive for COVID-19 on the 13th. According to the epidemiological investigation by health authorities, Sergeant B was not classified as a self-quarantine or active monitoring subject. However, considering the overlap in movement paths with the infected colleague, the police independently decided to have all employees, including Sergeant B, self-quarantine as a preventive measure.
According to police guidelines related to COVID-19, commanders can quarantine employees for a certain period if necessary. Therefore, besides the 3 to 4 employees classified as self-quarantine subjects, all employees at the police station were ordered to self-quarantine for two weeks on their own accord.
However, Sergeant B invited one colleague each on the 19th and 24th of last month, who worked at different locations, to his home and had meals together during the self-quarantine period.
Subsequently, in a COVID-19 test conducted one day before the quarantine was lifted, Sergeant B tested positive. Among the two colleagues who dined with Sergeant B, one tested negative, and the other is currently under self-quarantine.
The police stated that since Sergeant B was not classified as a self-quarantine subject by health authorities, he did not violate the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, but since he broke internal guidelines, an internal investigation will be conducted.
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