Jeju Cases 36 and 37 Confirmed as Operator and Staff of 'Rooftop Jeongwon' Guesthouse
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province disclosed the epidemiological investigation results of guesthouse operator A (Jeju case No. 36), who tested positive for COVID-19 on the 27th.
On the 28th, Jeju held a joint COVID-19 briefing and announced that according to the epidemiological investigation, A visited four places including his guesthouse from the 24th until his positive diagnosis on the 27th (excluding his residence and the aircraft used for entry and exit), and as of 10 a.m. on the 28th, he was found to have contacted 27 people.
The places A visited are △ Eunbille Restaurant (Namwon-eup, Seogwipo City, no contacts) △ Rooftop Garden (Namwon-eup, 3 staff and 14 guests) △ Jeongdae (Ido 2-dong, Jeju City, 2 staff and 2 guests whose identities are being verified) △ Goopifoot (Ido 2-dong, contacts under investigation).
It was confirmed that A wore a mask for most of his movements.
Besides the four visited locations, it was identified that A had contact with one family member, four acquaintances (three transferred to other cities/provinces, one within the province), and one designated driver.
Jeju authorities have identified 24 out of the 27 contacts of A and are focusing on identifying the remaining three (one guest at Rooftop Garden and two guests at Jeongdae).
Among the 24 identified, nine were transferred to other cities/provinces, and 15 residents within the province have completed self-quarantine measures.
Disinfection and quarantine have been completed at seven locations including the guesthouse, residence, and aircraft.
A stated, “Since the 26th, I had slight muscle pain and felt unwell, and from the 27th, I developed fever and cough symptoms.”
Following the Central Disease Control Headquarters guidelines, epidemiological investigations were conducted starting two days before symptom onset, setting the contact range accordingly, so A’s movements from the 24th to the 27th were investigated.
On the 24th, at 9:40 a.m., A departed Jeju on Air Busan flight BX8026 and after arrival in the metropolitan area, was found to have contacted three acquaintances.
On the 25th, at 9:02 a.m., he took Korean Air flight KE1213 from Gimpo and arrived at 10:12 a.m. in Jeju.
Jeju quarantine authorities requested passenger information from the airline for the flight A boarded and plan to notify self-quarantine as soon as identity information is secured.
After arriving in Jeju, A’s movements on the 25th were from 10:22 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. traveling by private car to his residence, from 11:26 a.m. for 22 minutes at Eunbille Restaurant, and from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Rooftop Garden where he had dinner and a party with staff and guests. The quarantine authorities confirmed he was not wearing a mask during this time.
On the 26th, he stayed at home, then spent about 40 minutes at Rooftop Garden from 8 p.m., moved to Jeju City, and from 10:05 p.m. to 10:50 p.m. dined with acquaintances at Jeongdae in Ido 2-dong. From 11:16 p.m. to 11:58 p.m., he stayed at Goopifoot and then returned home via designated driver.
On the 27th, around 3:40 p.m., A visited the screening clinic at Seogwipo Medical Center for specimen collection and received a final positive diagnosis from the provincial Health and Environment Research Institute at around 9:50 p.m.
At around 1:20 a.m. on the 28th, he was admitted to Seogwipo Medical Center and is currently in isolation treatment.
A’s mother and two guesthouse staff who had close contact all tested negative around 6 a.m. on the 28th, but one staff member tested positive and was added as Jeju case No. 37.
Jeju quarantine authorities continue to conduct tests on other contacts.
Authorities estimate that A was infected in the metropolitan area, as he visited the metropolitan area from August 19 to 21, prior to the epidemiological investigation period, including the 24th.
Jeju is investigating additional contact information through on-site epidemiological investigations including identifying guests at Rooftop Garden and analyzing CCTV and card usage records.
Detailed movement routes and contact information related to A will be further disclosed via disaster safety messages, the official website, and SNS as they are confirmed, and quarantine measures will be implemented.
Meanwhile, the provincial autonomous police unit plans to vigorously conduct large-scale guidance and crackdowns amid concerns that illegal nighttime parties are accelerating the spread of COVID-19.
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