Jeju Island Maintains Social Distancing Level 1.5... Strengthening Targeted and Pinpoint Quarantine Measures

Governor Won Hee-ryong: "Responding with Customized Quarantine Measures Considering Jeju's Characteristics and Risk Levels"

On the 7th, Jeju-type quarantine measures including social distancing escalation discussed at the weekly policy coordination

Open Screening Clinic in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Photo by Park Chang-won (Jeju)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju-style social distancing level 1.5 will be maintained as is.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 7th that during the weekly policy coordination meeting held at 9 a.m. in Tamna Hall on the 4th floor of the Jeju Provincial Government main building, they discussed the direction of Jeju-style quarantine measures in accordance with the nationwide social distancing level adjustment and decided accordingly.

This decision considered various factors including ▲the weekly average daily confirmed cases being 1.3 (from November 30 to December 6), which does not meet the criteria for level 1.5 ▲the recent declining trend in the number of tourists arriving on the island ▲the fact that confirmed cases since November have been individual cases rather than local transmissions ▲and that most of the contents applied during the upgrade to Jeju-style social distancing level 1.5 as of midnight on the 4th are already being applied at level 2 nationwide.

Jeju Province plans to maintain the current level 1.5 but will implement focused “blocking quarantine” for incoming visitors and residents traveling to other regions, and manage “pinpoint quarantine” by industry to eliminate blind spots in quarantine in daily life sectors.

Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, while inspecting the Jeju-style quarantine measures on the day, ordered, “Please respond with customized pinpoint quarantine measures to vulnerable and risky areas specific to Jeju, such as the surge in movement after the college entrance exam (Suneung), consideration of entry and exit situations related to travel to and from the mainland, and prevention of quarantine blind spots.”

Governor Won also explained, “Maintaining level 1.5 in Jeju does not mean loosening restrictions, but rather responding strongly to existing quarantine blind spots according to risk levels, and applying customized pinpoint responses depending on the situation instead of indiscriminate uniform enforcement.”

He emphasized, “Currently, what Jeju needs to focus on regarding pinpoint quarantine is to ensure that no vulnerable points arise due to movement related to the college entrance exam, to respond to incoming tourists and residents visiting from the mainland, and to prevent complaints and controversies caused by uniform inspections in places where masks must be removed, while instead strongly recommending and sharing the risks so that residents can respond together.”

Additionally, mentioning life-related ceremonial events such as ancestral rites, weddings, and funerals, he said, “Please strengthen public awareness campaigns so that residents can refrain from customary invitations that could become hotspots for transmission due to family events.”

In particular, Jeju Province plans to implement quarantine measures of level 1.5 plus alpha to prepare for the balloon effect caused by many local governments, including the metropolitan area, upgrading to social distancing level 2 or higher.

First, for quarantine management of incoming tourists, they will continue to implement △special inspections of 8 major core tourism clusters and 2,818 tourism businesses △refraining from training, tourism, and workshops organized by public institutions △guidance on quarantine rules linked with private travel agencies, Jeju travel reservation sites, and rental car companies △diagnostic testing at the Jeju Airport walk-through screening clinic if suspicious symptoms appear during the entry process △and prohibition notices for private-organized gatherings and events of 100 or more people linked with hotels and convention centers.

Along with this, to prevent daily life infections caused by residents visiting the mainland in advance, they will also implement △support for diagnostic testing for examinees visiting the mainland for reasons such as interviews △support for diagnostic testing at walk-through screening clinics and six public health centers if suspicious symptoms appear or epidemiological links are proven △campaigns to refrain from year-end and New Year gatherings and events linked with private self-help groups △and refraining from inviting mainland relatives and acquaintances to life-related gatherings and events such as ancestral rites, weddings, and funerals.

The provincial quarantine authorities stated that they will avoid uniform business restrictions or bans and continue pinpoint quarantine by proactively identifying quarantine blind spots and strengthening quarantine measures by industry.

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