<Anchor> A

person who was diagnosed as being diagnosed and being treated in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, escaped the hospital yesterday (18th) and was caught this morning. It has been confirmed that he has been around downtown Seoul for over a day. Our reporter called the confirmed person and asked why he ran away, and they replied that the containment facility looked dangerous.

Reporter Hong Young-jae reported.

<Reporter>

A man who enters a cafe looks out the window and talks on the phone.

This is Mr. A, in his 50s, who escaped from a hospital in Paju, Gyeonggi-do yesterday early in the morning while undergoing quarantine treatment.


Mr. A was diagnosed with coronavirus four days ago after attending the Sarang First Church service.

As Mr. A leaves the cafe, two minutes later, quarantine agents and police come in.

After leaving the cafe, Mr. A entered a religious facility about 700 meters away through a window and stayed for 11 hours.

[Mr. A/Containment treatment escapee: I saw (the police) going back and forth. The door was locked from the outside, so I couldn't think I went inside.]

Mr. A, who moved to a cafe in Sinchon, Seoul, was arrested at around 1 am today by the police who tracked the traffic line through CCTV.

It's been 25 hours since I ran away.

[At the time, cafe visitors: There was a confirmed person on the 2nd floor. The police let me refrain from trying to get up if he was constantly feeling frustrated.] The

police once re-admitted Mr. A to the hospital where he was being treated.

On the phone with SBS, Mr. A gave an explanation that is difficult to understand, saying that he had escaped due to the high risk of the quarantine environment.

[Mr. A/Containment treatment escapee: It seemed like something bitter in the soup on the rice was burning. So, my blood pressure went up to 159. To the point that I can't just wake up. That's why I ran away because I said,'You shouldn't go outside.']

He stressed that he was not a member of Sarangjeil Church and only attended a service on the 9th.

As soon as the treatment is finished, the police will investigate how to escape and decide whether to apply for an arrest warrant.

(Video editing: Jihye So, VJ: Jaemin No)