"Is It Okay to Go to the Beach?" COVID-19 Prevention Alert During Summer Vacation Season

The Peak Summer Vacation Season... Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread
760,000 Visited Beaches Last Weekend
Experts Say "Following Prevention Guidelines Is Crucial"

Visitors to Haeundae Beach in Busan, which opened on the 1st, are consoling their disappointment on the sandy beach as swimming was prohibited due to high waves.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "This vacation, I have to spend it in Jeju Island.", "Everyone seems to be going to the beach just fine?"

As the summer vacation season approaches, concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are growing. Since travelers are flocking to vacation spots, social distancing may become lax, and due to the hot weather, people might take off their masks, increasing the likelihood that personal quarantine rules will not be properly followed. Especially this year, since overseas travel has become virtually impossible, there is a possibility that tourists will flock to domestic tourist destinations, requiring caution. Experts suggest that it is important to follow personal quarantine rules.

Recently, many people have been considering their summer vacations. According to a survey conducted by Job Korea on 704 adult men and women about summer vacations, 27.7% of respondents answered that they would spend their summer vacation engaging in outdoor activities such as traveling. In other words, about 3 out of 10 people are planning a summer vacation.

Office worker Kim (27) is also planning a trip to Jeju Island. Kim said, "I booked a plane ticket to Jeju Island from the end of July to early August. Although I am scared of COVID-19, when I look at my friends around me, they all travel without hesitation," adding, "I felt like I would be the only one losing out if I didn't go on a trip."

The problem lies in the high possibility of people crowding at vacation spots. When many people gather at tourist sites, quarantine rules such as social distancing may not be observed, and since people come into contact with many others, it may be difficult to trace movements even if someone tests positive for COVID-19.

Recently, there was a case where a tourist who visited Jeju Island was diagnosed with COVID-19, causing local infection spread. A man in his 70s, Mr. A, a resident of Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, traveled to Jeju Island from the 9th to the 14th and was later diagnosed with COVID-19.

It was reported that he traveled without wearing a mask and even took fever reducers during the trip. During his travels, he came into contact with about 20 Jeju residents, among whom 4 were confirmed positive.

On the 17th, Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung-si, Gangwon, which opened, is bustling with vacationers. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Beaches are already crowded with vacationers. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on the 15th, the number of visitors to open beaches in the second week of July reached 760,000. Especially on Saturday the 11th, about 420,000 visitors came, which is a 62% increase compared to the same day last year. The total number of visitors for the second week reached 1.8 million.

However, it is difficult to properly observe quarantine rules at beaches. Due to the nature of places where water splashes, it is hard to enforce mask-wearing policies.

As a result, some beaches have taken measures such as imposing fines of up to 3 million won for not wearing masks to strengthen quarantine rules.

However, since large crowds gather, it is impossible to check every person not wearing a mask, and there is also a possibility of so-called 'mask freeloaders' who wear masks improperly, such as hanging them on their chins.

As concerns about COVID-19 rise, citizens are of the opinion that travel should be refrained from until the situation calms down. Office worker Jung (25) said, "It's not like we have to travel right now, and with more confirmed cases these days, I wonder if we really need to go," adding, "I think COVID-19 is not ending because of the complacent thought of 'I'll be fine.'"

Experts emphasized the need to strengthen quarantine levels. Professor Kim Wooju, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "Since the vacation season has started, many people in the metropolitan area will flock to tourist destinations such as Jeju Island, the southwestern coast, and Gangwon Province," and pointed out, "The risk of nationwide (COVID-19) spread is increasing."

He added, "It cannot be definitively said that 'outdoors are safe and indoors are dangerous,' but it is important to properly follow preventive measures such as social distancing and wearing masks."

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