"Now Ready to Go Out" Golden Holiday, Will It Be a Critical Moment for COVID-19?

Domestic Flight Operations Recover to 70-80% Level
Some KTX Trains on Downbound Gyeongbu, Honam, and Jeolla Lines Sold Out at Certain Times
Jeju Tourism Association Expects About 179,000 Visitors During Holiday
Government: "Quarantine Management Recovering but Still Cannot Be Complacent"
Experts: "Not the Time to Lower Vigilance"

On the 26th, the first weekend after the easing of social distancing measures, Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was bustling with citizens.
Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "Is it okay to go out now?"

Office worker A (29) took annual leave from the end of this month until the 5th of next month to enjoy the so-called golden holiday. A said, "These days, wherever I go on weekends, it's crowded with people. During the holiday period, even if I can't go far, I plan to visit my hometown to see my parents and meet friends," adding, "Recently, the government also eased social distancing, and the number of confirmed cases is gradually decreasing, so I think there is no big problem."

As the government eased high-intensity social distancing, more citizens are enjoying travel and outings. In particular, a holiday period of up to six days is scheduled from the 30th of this month to the 5th of next month, raising concerns in some quarters that it could lead to a large-scale infection outbreak. While some point out that the number of confirmed cases could explode due to the relaxed social distancing, others believe that if preventive measures such as wearing masks are properly followed, it will be fine.

Meanwhile, as the government points out that the situation is not yet safe, tension is rising ahead of the holiday. In response, experts have stated that it is not the time to lower vigilance.

Park Neunghoo, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the 26th, "Today marks one week since social distancing was somewhat eased," adding, "Most patients are being detected within the quarantine management system such as entry screening or isolation, and the number of cases continues to decrease. Overall, it can be seen that the control power of the quarantine management system is gradually recovering."

The government had implemented 'high-intensity social distancing' from the 22nd of last month until the 19th of this month. Since the 20th, a lower level of social distancing has been applied for two weeks until the 5th of next month.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, during the past week of somewhat eased social distancing, the daily average number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 decreased from 25 last week to about 9.3 this week, around 10 cases. Also, with a recovery rate exceeding 80%, the number of patients under isolation treatment dropped to the 1,000s from the 24th.

Given this situation, the number of citizens planning travel during the golden holiday period is increasing. According to the aviation and travel industries on the 26th, domestic airlines have increased domestic flight operations to 70-80% of pre-COVID-19 levels since the second week of this month.

According to the aviation and travel industries on the 26th, domestic airlines have increased the number of domestic flights to 70-80% of the pre-COVID-19 levels since the second week of this month.
Photo by Yonhap News

Korean Air increased flights on the Gimpo-Jeju route, which had been reduced to 10 round trips per day due to COVID-19, to 18 flights per day from the second week of this month. Asiana Airlines also increased flights on the same route from 138 to 187 round trips per week starting on the 15th of this month.

Some low-cost carriers (LCCs) such as Jin Air and Air Busan also increased domestic flights to Jeju in preparation for the holiday demand.

The Jeju Tourism Association predicted that about 179,000 people would visit Jeju during the seven-day golden holiday from the 29th of this month to the 5th of next month.

Additionally, according to Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) on the 25th, most KTX trains on the Gyeongbu, Honam, and Jeolla lines heading south during the evening hours (6-8 p.m.) on the 29th and some morning hours on the 30th are already sold out.

The problem is that enclosed spaces such as airplanes and trains pose a higher risk of group infections. Especially during peak hours, it is practically impossible to maintain seat spacing. Although some passengers wear masks, others do not due to discomfort, increasing the risk of infection.

As a result, quarantine authorities and related industries are making every effort to establish measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the 26th, "If you plan to travel, please use your own car and travel in the smallest family unit possible, and avoid group gatherings or group meals," adding, "Please think that you could be an asymptomatic or mild case, and that your carelessness could harm your beloved parents, children, and neighbors."

She also repeatedly emphasized △ maintaining a distance of at least 2 meters between people △ thoroughly following personal hygiene rules such as hand washing and wearing masks.

On the afternoon of January 30th, at Pohang Airport in Donghae-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, officials from the Nam-gu Public Health Center and Pohang Airport are observing passengers disembarking from a flight from Jeju after installing thermal imaging cameras due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Yonhap News.

Airlines also stated that they will strengthen infection prevention by operating non-face-to-face services such as thermal cameras and unmanned kiosks. Accordingly, passengers with a body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher will be advised to cancel their trips or be assigned seats separated from other passengers on board. Korea Railroad will also strengthen quarantine measures by not accepting standing ticket reservations during the holiday period.

Despite these concerns, some citizens believe that traveling or going on outings is acceptable if preventive measures such as wearing masks are followed. Office worker B (25), who went hiking over the weekend, said, "At the entrance of the hiking trail, they checked mask-wearing and measured temperature. They even took down names and phone numbers," adding, "There were people checking mask-wearing along the trail. So I thought outdoor activities are okay as long as you wear a mask properly."

Experts pointed out that high-risk places where many people gather should be avoided.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "Even in small groups, there are still risk factors. Personal hygiene must be thorough, and places where many people gather should be avoided," advising, "Some citizens think that just wearing a mask is enough, but efforts are needed not only for masks but also for hand washing, cough etiquette, and maintaining cleanliness of the surrounding environment."

Meanwhile, the government also pointed out that since infections of unknown routes are still occurring intermittently, the situation is not safe. At the briefing, Deputy Head Park said, "There are COVID-19 patients in the community that the quarantine authorities have not identified, and if we become careless, there is always a possibility of another large-scale outbreak caused by them," adding, "Many people are expected to prepare for travel or gatherings during the late April to early May holidays, but the government is concerned that this could lead to a resurgence of COVID-19, which has been gradually controlled."

He continued, "Please remember that the closer the physical distance, the higher the possibility of COVID-19 transmission, and refrain from gatherings, events, and travel as much as possible until May 5th."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.