Jeju-do Announces Special Quarantine Measures to Prepare for Winter Epidemic Surge

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Government Complex

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 24th a ‘Special Winter Pandemic Preparedness Quarantine Measures’ to proactively respond to the third large-scale wave as the resurgence of COVID-19 continues nationwide.

This measure aims to address blind spots caused by the year-end and New Year atmosphere, including the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scheduled for the 3rd of next month and the Christmas holiday, amid the recent domestic COVID-19 confirmed cases exceeding around 300 for five consecutive days and the social distancing in the metropolitan area being raised to Level 2 from midnight on the 24th, to prevent the spread within the local community.

The special quarantine measures for winter pandemic preparedness include strengthening quarantine management and diagnostic test support for residents and tourists staying in Jeju, administrative measures mandating compliance with quarantine rules for incoming visitors, and special quarantine management plans for Jeju arrivals (Special Arrival Procedure Season 4).

Jeju Province will first implement strengthened quarantine management through ▲active support for COVID-19 diagnostic testing for residents and tourists staying in the province ▲cross-departmental support for special quarantine measures related to the CSAT by the education office ▲continuation of influenza vaccination projects for all residents in preparation for the twin-demic ▲focused management including comprehensive testing for vulnerable facilities such as psychiatric hospitals and nursing hospitals.

Following the recent relaxation by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the scope of COVID-19 diagnostic test support to cases recognized as having epidemiological links with domestic cluster outbreaks, Jeju actively supports COVID-19 diagnostic testing for residents and tourists within the region.

During the medical interview process, if there is a history of travel to the mainland or contact with such individuals, or if there is an epidemiological link to a cluster outbreak, support will be provided to promptly receive COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Those wishing to be tested should first inquire at one of the six public health centers or seven screening clinics in the province, then visit for a medical interview and specimen collection.

While awaiting test results, mandatory isolation must be observed at home or at the reserved accommodation.

However, support is limited to COVID-19 diagnostic test fees only, and additional costs may be incurred if visiting the seven screening clinics on holidays or receiving medical services other than diagnostic testing.

Suspected symptomatic individuals will receive primary testing during the arrival process and secondary active testing at screening medical institutions within the province. In case of confirmed cases, isolation treatment will be provided in negative pressure rooms (up to 191 beds) at the dedicated COVID-19 hospital in the province, using seven negative pressure ambulances.

Jeju Province is also conducting focused quarantine management, including comprehensive testing of users and workers, for facilities with high risk of cluster infections or those frequently used by vulnerable groups such as general hospitals, nursing hospitals, and elderly care facilities.

Since the 16th, comprehensive testing has been conducted for users and workers of COVID-19 cluster infection vulnerable facilities (nursing hospitals, elderly care facilities, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, etc.), collecting 4,959 specimens from 138 locations, all of which tested negative.

Jeju plans to complete testing for the remaining institutions by the 25th.

Screening clinics at general hospitals, which are at the forefront of COVID-19 response, are implementing measures to prevent cluster infections such as ▲refraining from gatherings of 10 or more people after work and official hospital events or meetings ▲avoiding non-essential visits to the mainland and reporting when visits are unavoidable.

The influenza vaccination project for all residents, which has been ongoing since September 8th, will continue to encourage vaccinations at administrative agencies, schools, public corporations, and general companies within the province.

As of the 23rd, about 310,000 people have been vaccinated, showing a vaccination rate of 58% against the target of 80%, and with winter approaching, active vaccination is necessary to block the twin-demic.

In particular, administrative measures imposing penalties such as claims for damages will be reactivated against those violating quarantine rules by proceeding with travel to Jeju despite symptoms among arrivals through airports and ports.

From the 24th until the 31st of next month, all arrivals through airports and ports must comply with quarantine rules such as wearing masks during their stay in Jeju.

Also, if symptoms suspicious of COVID-19 such as fever appear during travel after arrival, individuals must stop going out and consult medical institutions such as public health centers and screening clinics in the province, then receive a medical interview from healthcare professionals.

Im Tae-bong, Director of the Jeju Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, “The fight against COVID-19 is not over until a complete vaccine is developed,” and added, “During the year-end, refraining from dining gatherings, wearing masks, and adhering to social distancing and personal hygiene and quarantine rules are the only ways to protect ourselves and others.”

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