Jeju Region Abruptly Raises Social Distancing to 'Level 4' Starting from the 18th

Applied for 2 weeks until midnight on the 29th

Only 2 people allowed in private gatherings after 6 PM

12 beaches to close from the 18th

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] Social distancing in the Jeju area will be abruptly raised to level 4, which is practically a lockdown. Private gatherings will be limited to two people after 6 p.m., and 12 beaches will be closed starting from the 18th.

On the 15th at 2 p.m., Acting Governor Koo Man-seop of Jeju Province held a press conference and announced that social distancing would be elevated to level 4 from 12 a.m. on the 18th until midnight on the 29th.

Currently, the daily confirmed cases in Jeju have been explosively increasing, with 55 cases on the 13th and 39 cases on the 14th, marking a critical crisis.

The infection pattern has shifted to cluster infections through private gatherings among residents since the end of July, and most confirmed cases have been identified as infections caused by the Delta variant.

Acting Governor Koo said, “The Delta variant virus has rapid transmissibility and a risk of breakthrough infections, making it highly likely to infect even with brief contact. If we fail to control the current spread, our quarantine network and medical response system will inevitably reach their limits.” He added, “After careful consideration, we have decided to raise social distancing to level 4 starting at 12 a.m. on the 18th.”

He continued, “Please refrain from going out and traveling, and avoid unnecessary private gatherings. We must all stop together to quickly get out of this tunnel of pain. We will do our best with an extraordinary determination to restore the daily lives of residents as soon as possible.”

Level 4 social distancing is the highest level applied when a lockdown is necessary due to a pandemic, so Jeju Province urged residents to stay home and refrain from going out. Social activities other than commuting to and from work will be suspended, and only essential industries will be allowed face-to-face activities.

According to the government’s revised social distancing application plan for local governments, Jeju, with a population of 700,000, will apply level 4 if the weekly average daily confirmed cases exceed 27.

As of midnight on the 15th, the cumulative confirmed cases in Jeju totaled 2,078, with 212 new cases occurring in the past week (August 8?14). This is an increase of 98 compared to the previous week, resulting in a weekly average of 30.29 new cases per day.

In particular, the cluster infection at the ‘Jeju City Elderly Daycare Center’ resulted in 31 confirmed cases (18 users, 3 staff, 10 related family members), followed by 30 cases related to the ‘Jeju City Acquaintance Gathering 8’ cluster. Infections spread to families through private gatherings among peers in their teens and twenties, heightening the sense of crisis.

Accordingly, Jeju Province held an emergency countermeasure meeting at 10 a.m. on the 15th, chaired by Acting Governor Koo Man-seop, and decided to raise the current level 3 social distancing to level 4.

Under the level 4 measures, private gatherings are allowed up to four people before 6 p.m. and limited to two people after 6 p.m. Exceptions are made only for cohabiting family members living in the same residence, caregivers for children (under 12 years old), elderly, or disabled persons, and gatherings for end-of-life situations.

Events, which were allowed up to 49 people under level 3, are now prohibited, and assemblies are banned except for one-person protests. Weddings and funerals must maintain a ratio of one person per 4 square meters of facility space, with a cumulative daily limit of 49 people.

However, events essential for official duties or business management are exempt from personnel restrictions, but any essential event involving overnight stays is completely banned. Academic events under level 3 required dividing participants into separate spaces with fewer than 50 people each, but under level 4, only events with fewer than 50 people without dividing are allowed.

For religious facilities, regular worship services, masses, Buddhist ceremonies, and memorial services are limited to 10% of seating capacity. During the level 4 period, all gatherings, events, meals, and overnight stays organized by religious facilities are strictly prohibited.

Most multi-use facilities will be restricted to operate until 10 p.m.

Entertainment establishments such as nightclubs, karaoke bars, and clubs?totaling 1,356 venues in the province?have been under a gathering ban administrative order since 12 a.m. on July 15, and will remain closed until further notice under level 4.

Due to the recent increase in infections at singing practice rooms (including coin karaoke rooms), gathering bans will also be applied similarly to entertainment facilities. PC rooms will be restricted from operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day, and food consumption during operating hours is completely prohibited.

Restaurants and cafes will only be allowed takeout and delivery from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Indoor sports facilities, academies, reading rooms, study cafes, amusement parks, water parks, arcades, multi-rooms, shops, and marts will also face operating restrictions starting at 10 p.m.

Outdoor sports facilities will apply private gathering limits, and sports stadiums, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, and horse racing venues will hold games without spectators. Movie theaters and performance halls will be prohibited from holding performances other than regular shows, and both operation and use will be restricted from 10 p.m.

Museums, art galleries, and science centers must maintain occupancy at 30% of one person per 6 square meters. Academies and private tutoring centers must choose between seating with two seats apart or limiting occupancy to one person per 6 square meters, and operations will be restricted after 10 p.m.

Accommodation facilities are prohibited from exceeding the room capacity limits and may operate only two-thirds of all rooms. Large marts, shops, and department stores over 300 square meters will face operating restrictions after 10 p.m., and promotional tastings and use of rest areas (lounges, chairs, etc.) are all banned.

Social welfare facilities, which were allowed normal operation under compliance with quarantine rules, will have all visits banned and operate at 50% or less of their capacity.

All multi-use facilities must strictly comply with basic quarantine rules including ▲wearing masks ▲registering entry logs ▲ventilation and disinfection ▲prohibition of food consumption ▲restricting entry of symptomatic individuals ▲appointing quarantine managers ▲posting allowable occupancy.

Based on the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ level 4 beach operation guidelines, 12 beaches will be closed, and convenience facilities such as parasol rental shops and shower/changing rooms will be suspended.

Private gatherings at beaches are limited to four people before 6 p.m. and two people after. Enforcement of quarantine measures against drinking and eating after 10 p.m. and water safety management will continue simultaneously.

Furthermore, even those who have completed vaccination must wear masks indoors and outdoors as mask-wearing is mandatory.

Businesses violating quarantine rules face fines up to 3 million KRW, and users up to 100,000 KRW. In cases of high infection risk, individual businesses may be ordered to close.

An official from the province stated, “If the violation of quarantine rules is serious and causes cluster infections, we will actively exercise the right to claim damages for quarantine costs and treatment expenses of confirmed cases.” He added, “Violators, including business operators, will be excluded from economic support such as living support funds, the government’s 4th disaster relief funds, and compensation for losses.”

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won captain@asiae.co.kr