This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/world/asia/after-mers-south-korea-authorizes-prison-for-quarantine-scofflaws.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
After MERS, South Korea Authorizes Prison for Quarantine Scofflaws After MERS, South Korea Authorizes Prison for Quarantine Scofflaws
(about 9 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Stung by the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome, South Korea has passed a law authorizing prison terms of up to two years for people who defy quarantine orders or lie about their potential exposure to an infectious disease. SEOUL, South Korea — Stung by the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome, South Korea has passed a law authorizing prison terms of up to two years for people who defy quarantine orders or lie about their possible exposure to an infectious disease.
South Korea has had 181 confirmed cases of the disease known as MERS, including 31 deaths. The outbreak, which began last month, is the worst seen outside Saudi Arabia, where the disease was first identified.South Korea has had 181 confirmed cases of the disease known as MERS, including 31 deaths. The outbreak, which began last month, is the worst seen outside Saudi Arabia, where the disease was first identified.
The spread of MERS here has been attributed mainly to poor infection control at the country’s hospitals, as well as failures of communication and coordination on the government’s part. But the public has also been angered by reports of people flouting orders to stay home while they were being monitored for symptoms. One such person went golfing; another went to China, where he was detained and later tested positive for MERS. Under current law, such defiance can result in a fine but not imprisonment.The spread of MERS here has been attributed mainly to poor infection control at the country’s hospitals, as well as failures of communication and coordination on the government’s part. But the public has also been angered by reports of people flouting orders to stay home while they were being monitored for symptoms. One such person went golfing; another went to China, where he was detained and later tested positive for MERS. Under current law, such defiance can result in a fine but not imprisonment.
The new law, which was passed Thursday and takes effect in six months, gives more authority to public health investigators, empowering them to close down the site of a potential outbreak of infectious disease and to place people there under quarantine. People who defy the orders can be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 20 million won, or about $18,000. The same penalties can be imposed for lying about one’s potential exposure to infectious disease. The new law, which was passed Thursday and takes effect in six months, gives more authority to public health investigators, empowering them to close down the site of a possible outbreak of infectious disease and to place people there under quarantine. People who defy the orders can be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 20 million won, or about $18,000. The same penalties can be imposed for lying about one’s possible exposure to infectious disease.
South Korea’s first MERS patient, a 68-year-old man who had traveled to the Middle East, did not initially reveal the full details of his itinerary to doctors, depriving them of a clue that he had the syndrome. He infected dozens of people in three hospitals before being confirmed as a MERS case on May 20, at the fourth hospital he visited.South Korea’s first MERS patient, a 68-year-old man who had traveled to the Middle East, did not initially reveal the full details of his itinerary to doctors, depriving them of a clue that he had the syndrome. He infected dozens of people in three hospitals before being confirmed as a MERS case on May 20, at the fourth hospital he visited.
The new law requires the health authorities to make public certain information about an outbreak of infectious disease, including the names and locations of infected hospitals and the routes taken by exposed patients. The government was criticized for waiting weeks to reveal the names of the hospitals where MERS infections had been reported.The new law requires the health authorities to make public certain information about an outbreak of infectious disease, including the names and locations of infected hospitals and the routes taken by exposed patients. The government was criticized for waiting weeks to reveal the names of the hospitals where MERS infections had been reported.
The law also requires police officers, firefighters and other public servants to help public health investigators enforce quarantine orders.The law also requires police officers, firefighters and other public servants to help public health investigators enforce quarantine orders.