Possibility of COVID-19 Spread After Chuseok Holiday...Concerns Over Silent Transmission

Jeju Visit Population Expected to Exceed 279,300 During Chuseok Holiday
Citizens Express Concerns Over "Chuseok-Related Spread"
Experts Say "COVID-19 Average Incubation Period Is 5-7 Days... Confirmed Cases Likely to Increase"

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Concerns are growing that COVID-19 may spread again after the Chuseok holiday as cases of people visiting their hometowns or engaging in Chukangseu (a portmanteau of Chuseok and vacation) and other outdoor activities continue. This is because the amount of movement increased and contact between people became more frequent during the five-day holiday.

Experts worry that considering the average incubation period of COVID-19 is 5 to 7 days, the number of confirmed cases will increase as the number of people getting tested rises.

The Korea Expressway Corporation announced on the 4th that during this Chuseok holiday period, an average of 4.54 million vehicles moved daily, which is about 10% less than the average of 5.08 million vehicles per day during last year's Chuseok holiday. However, since the volume of travel during the holiday itself is higher than usual, the possibility of COVID-19 spreading remains high.

Jeju Island, a representative resort destination, was crowded with people wanting to enjoy Chukangseu. According to Jeju Island, from the weekend of September 26 to October 3, a total of 253,776 people visited Jeju. Additionally, it is estimated that about 26,000 more people will arrive on the last day of the Chuseok holiday, October 4, bringing the total number of visitors during the period (September 26 to October 4) to over 279,300.

Given this situation, voices are emerging that this week is a critical time to prevent infections originating from Chuseok. Office worker Kim (28) said, "I did not go down to my hometown this Chuseok. I also did not plan any trips because of COVID-19. But looking around, many people went out to places like Jeju Island or nearby suburbs. Even if they wore masks, they probably took them off at least once while eating or when feeling uncomfortable," expressing frustration.

He added, "The news said the number of confirmed cases was not that high, but many people who were sick did not get tested. If more people get tested in the future, the number of confirmed cases will increase. If we fail to control the spread this week, social distancing measures will be strengthened again, causing disruptions to daily life," he expressed concern.

On the morning of the 24th of last month, medical staff are assisting citizens with testing at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

In fact, infection cases occurred continuously during the holiday period. According to Ulsan City on the 4th, an elementary school student A (12), residing in Songpa-gu, Seoul, visited his grandparents' house in Ulsan with his parents and younger brother by car from September 30, the start of the Chuseok holiday, to October 3, and was diagnosed with COVID-19. It is known that A showed symptoms such as indigestion and fever starting from the 2nd.

During the five days of the Chuseok holiday, 42 confirmed cases were reported in Busan. Busan health authorities announced that after testing 690 suspected COVID-19 patients that day, 5 people (Busan cases 454 to 458) were confirmed positive. These cases are related to cluster infections at hospitals, bathhouses, and swimming pools, and among them, there are so-called 'dark patients' whose infection routes are unknown.

In particular, two visitors to Busan who came for the holiday were confirmed positive. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 3rd briefing that two confirmed cases occurred among Chuseok holiday visitors returning home or going back. They were residents of Seoul and Ulsan who visited Busan during the holiday period.

While the number of tests decreased during the holiday period, leading to a decrease in confirmed cases, the positivity rate?the ratio of confirmed cases to tests?was higher than the overall average, raising concerns about a resurgence of COVID-19.

The quarantine authorities urged people to postpone going to work and get tested for COVID-19 immediately if they feel even slightly unwell.

Kwon Junwook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "For those who traveled to their hometowns during Chuseok, those who were in crowded, close-contact, or enclosed environments, and those in high-risk occupational groups such as healthcare workers and social welfare facility workers, we strongly recommend getting tested for COVID-19 if you have cold symptoms or feel even slightly unwell or suspicious symptoms."

Experts suggested that to prevent COVID-19 infections originating from Chuseok, people with symptoms should immediately visit clinics and get tested.

Professor Kim Woojoo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "Citizens who did not go home or on Chukangseu also crowded shopping malls and amusement parks. Since our country has a high population density, not going home during the Chuseok holiday does not mean being safe from COVID-19."

He added, "Last week, many clinics were closed and fewer people went for testing. The number of confirmed cases will likely increase within a few days. To prevent the spread, if you have symptoms, you should get tested immediately," he advised.

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