Shincheonji follower refuses to enter virus treatment center, assaults nurse

Daegu's Nam District officials disinfect streets near the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church, March 6. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

A follower of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus ― the church whose members account for the majority of coronavirus patients here ― fled from the virus treatment center after assaulting a nurse and was later caught by police officers, according to Daegu city officials Monday. The officials said the 67-year-old ran into trouble with the law after refusing to enter a virus treatment center.

The Shincheonji follower, who was confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus, caused a disturbance at about 8:20 p.m., Sunday, while being moved to the virus treatment center operated by Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu. She refused to be quarantined there.

The patient was being moved from Daegu Medical Center, where she had been initially hospitalized, to the virus treatment center that accommodates those with mild symptoms.

She pulled the hair of a nurse who was wearing protective clothing and ran away.

Although police were present, they could not suppress the patient as they were not wearing protective clothing.

Police, after putting on protective clothing, chased the patient and caught her near Daegu Medical Center at 9:20 p.m. She was hospitalized there again.

“We are investigating the details of the incident,” a Daegu city official said.

Health authorities are considering filing a complaint with the prosecution against her for obstruction of business, assault and a violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

While Korea has reported thousands of infected patients, most of the confirmed cases have occurred in Daegu, with a major cluster of infections linked to the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church.

Snowballing infections have resulted in a serious shortage of hospital beds in the region. Several patients have died while waiting at home for beds to become available.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided on March 1 to use vacant training centers and other facilities run by the government, as well as private companies, to accommodate patients with mild symptoms.

Meanwhile, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital shut down its emergency room and some of its wards after a 78-year-old female inpatient was confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus, Sunday.

Medical staff and police rush to check the situation in front of Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Monday, as a patient there was confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus. / Yonhap

The patient visited the hospital, March 3, due to problems with her digestive system. Medical staff there asked her several times whether she came from Daegu, but she denied it, saying she was a Seoul resident.

She confessed that she was a Daegu resident only after confirmation of the virus infection.

As the incident is raising concerns over the further spread of the contagious disease in Seoul, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said the government will take strong action against patients who make false statements.

“Those who make false statements to medical staff, especially during a public health crisis, can face a fine of up to 10 million won ($8,300),” Kim said during a briefing.