Daegu City, 6 People Caught Leaving Self-Quarantine Without Permission... Announces 'Zero Tolerance' Criminal Charges

Volunteers are packing health supplies to be delivered to vulnerable groups in Daegu city on the 21st.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Daegu City announced on the 22nd that it recently caught 6 individuals who violated COVID-19 self-quarantine rules by leaving quarantine without permission and decided to file criminal charges against all of them under a zero-tolerance policy.

On the 19th, 4 people were caught leaving for personal errands, and on the 20th and 21st, one person each was caught leaving to visit a friend's house.

So far, Daegu City has identified 116 people who left self-quarantine without permission; among them, 93 Korean nationals have been or will be criminally charged, and 6 foreigners have been reported to the Ministry of Justice for deportation.

Daegu City explained that while COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing mainly among people in their 20s and 30s, there are cases where close contacts, even if they tested negative at the start of self-quarantine, become confirmed positive during quarantine after the incubation period.

From January to July this year, among about 3,300 confirmed cases in Daegu, approximately 720 (21%) were confirmed positive during self-quarantine. This accounts for 1.5% of the approximately 47,700 people who were under self-quarantine during the same period.

Jung Hangyo, Daegu City's Safety Policy Officer, urged, "Although it is exhausting and difficult due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation and heatwaves, those under self-quarantine must strictly follow the guidelines for the safety of themselves, their families, and our community. Families and cohabitants should also refrain from gatherings and outside activities as much as possible until the quarantine period ends."