"Could Trigger a Resurgence During Vacation Season"... Measures Established for Beaches and Valleys (Comprehensive)

Announcement of Vacation Season Measures for Individuals, Multi-use Facilities, and Tourist Attractions
Beach 'Congestion Traffic Light System' and Valley 'Quarantine Manager' Assigned

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The quarantine authorities have prepared measures to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19 during the summer vacation season.

On the 22nd, Park Hyang, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, "We have established summer vacation measures so that the public can spend a safe and healthy vacation without the spread of the epidemic," adding, "Unlike last year, this time, the measures were prepared in a way that individuals voluntarily practice according to changes following the lifting of social distancing rather than regulations and obligations."

This summer is the first vacation season since the lifting of social distancing in April, and the government expects that increased mobility during this period could trigger a resurgence. Last summer, the increase in mobility led to daily confirmed cases exceeding 1,000, marking the start of the fourth wave.

The government has provided quarantine guidelines suitable for the summer vacation season at multi-use facilities and tourist sites. First, vacation spots and resorts are advised to reduce congestion, maintain distancing between visitors, and wear masks.

At beaches, it is recommended to maintain a minimum distance of 1 meter between parasols. Starting next month, a 'congestion traffic light system' will be implemented, and 50 less crowded beaches will be selected to reduce density. The congestion traffic light system indicates density as red (crowded) when exceeding 200% of the appropriate capacity, yellow (risk of crowding) when between 100% and 200%, and blue (appropriate) when below 100%. Additionally, mask-wearing will be mandated in indoor multi-use facilities such as management offices and shower rooms at beaches.

From this month through August, on-site quarantine inspections will be conducted at amusement facilities, including water parks and other water play areas. In outdoor parks such as rivers and valleys, banners promoting daily quarantine measures will be displayed around water play zones, and quarantine managers will be assigned to each zone to monitor compliance with quarantine guidelines.

Airports, where the number of visitors is expected to increase due to the exemption from quarantine for overseas arrivals, will activate the use of the Quarantine Information Pre-Input System (Q-CODE) to reduce terminal congestion. Additionally, COVID-19 testing and issuance of negative certificates for arrivals and departures will be facilitated by operating COVID-19 testing centers within airports. Three testing centers at Incheon Airport and a mobile testing site at Gimhae Airport are currently operational, and a mobile testing site will be operated at Jeju Airport starting late June.

Furthermore, the government requested adherence to ventilation guidelines when using cooling devices during the summer. Lee Ki-il, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), emphasized, "At home, please ventilate three times a day for at least 10 minutes each time when operating air conditioners," and added, "At facilities, open all doors and windows before and after business hours, use the fan function, ventilate for more than 30 minutes, and ventilate frequently during business hours."

Park emphasized, "Although the number of (COVID-19) confirmed cases is decreasing day by day, we cannot be careless yet," and urged, "The most certain way to have a safe summer from COVID-19 is to thoroughly follow quarantine rules for yourself, your family, and all of us."