Suwon City Refers Foreign National Who Violated Self-Quarantine to Police

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 23rd that it referred to the competent police station a foreign national who unauthorized departed from a quarantine location during self-quarantine.

Mr. A (American in his 20s), whom the city referred on the 22nd, entered the country on the 10th, and his quarantine location was an apartment in Gwonseon-gu.

He received a 'negative' result from a COVID-19 diagnostic test on the 12th. Although he was required to self-quarantine until the 24th, unauthorized departures were confirmed on the 17th and 19th.

On the 17th, when Mr. A's smartphone GPS function was turned off, city officials conducted an unannounced on-site inspection and confirmed the departure. On the 19th, departure was confirmed through the self-quarantine safety protection app, and an on-site inspection was conducted.

The Gwonseon-gu Health Center placed Mr. A in a safety band (electronic wristband) on the 19th. On the 20th, his samples were collected and diagnostic testing was conducted. The diagnostic test result was 'negative.'

The city, after legal review, referred Mr. A to the competent police station on the 22nd. Mr. A violated Articles 42, Paragraph 2, Article 47, Paragraph 3, and Article 49, Paragraph 1 of the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.'

The city formed a 'Self-Quarantine Violators' Legal Response Team on April 1st and is taking strong measures against those who violate self-quarantine orders. When individuals without justifiable reasons violate self-quarantine, the city secures evidence and, after legal review, refers them to the competent police station.

Under infectious disease-related laws and guidelines of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, citizens who violate self-quarantine can be referred with zero tolerance, and foreign nationals can be subject to forced deportation. According to the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act,' those who violate self-quarantine face imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of not more than 10 million won.

A city official urged, "Those subject to self-quarantine must thoroughly comply with quarantine rules." The official added, "We ask citizens to practice social distancing in daily life until COVID-19 subsides and contribute to preventing the spread of infectious diseases."