Tourists sued after visiting holiday island with coronavirus

Authorities in the popular holiday destination Jeju Island in South Korea are suing two tourists for visiting after one tested positive for Covid-19.

The Korean mother and daughter travelled to the island province even though the daughter was asked to self-quarantine after returning from the US on March 15, when the two-week self-isolation period was still voluntary and not enforced.

The 19-year-old daughter tested positive a day after their trip to Jeju.

They are facing a lawsuit claiming damages of more than KRW100 million (about £66,000).

“Despite having symptoms from day one they went ahead. As a result, more than 20 businesses were forced to temporarily close and over 90 residents were placed under quarantine,” Jeju Province Governor Won Hee-ryong said.

“If any Jeju resident is found to have contracted the virus from the two, the province will file a criminal complaint,” he added.

Jeju Province has reported nine coronavirus cases so far.

MMP
photo: Pixabay