Jeju Records Highest Daily COVID-19 Cases with 18 Infections... Reality of COVID-19 4th Wave Emerges

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Park Chang-won] On the 8th, 18 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Jeju in just one day. The screening clinics in the province are unable to meet the surging demand for diagnostic tests, making the fourth large-scale wave a reality.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 9th that a total of 1,810 COVID-19 diagnostic tests were conducted in the Jeju area on the 8th of this month, resulting in 18 additional confirmed cases (numbers 761 to 778).

The 18 confirmed cases in a single day is the highest record this year. This is the fifth time that new confirmed cases have reached double digits, following January 1 (13 cases), January 3 (10 cases), May 4 (13 cases), and May 6 (12 cases), and the third time this month alone.

Among the 18 confirmed cases on this day, ▲ 3 cases (761, 762, 763) were contacts of case 1178 in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do ▲ 10 cases (765, 766, 767, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 778) were contacts of confirmed cases in Jeju ▲ 3 cases (764, 769, 777) were confirmed after testing due to COVID-19 symptoms ▲ 1 case (776) was a contact of a confirmed case in Uijeongbu ▲ 1 case (768) was a Nepalese entrant.

In particular, during epidemiological investigations, Jeju authorities confirmed that a confirmed case in the province visited Myeongmulcheon Bathhouse located in Donghong-dong, Seogwipo City, and disclosed the movement path. The confirmed case stayed in the women's bathhouse of Myeongmulcheon Bathhouse from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on May 5 and from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on May 6.

Meanwhile, as confirmed cases have recently exploded and diagnostic tests have surged, there have been cases where people visiting public health center screening clinics were unable to get tested and had to leave. Accordingly, Jeju's quarantine authorities are considering measures such as increasing personnel, expanding equipment, and outsourcing diagnostic testing to private companies.

Kim Mi-ya, an epidemiologist in Jeju, said, “Cluster infections are continuing mainly through karaoke rooms and PC rooms, which are mainly used by highly active young people in their 20s and teenagers.” She urged, “Multi-use facilities such as entertainment venues, karaoke rooms, and PC rooms have high infectivity and transmission power, so please refrain from using them as much as possible. If you do use them, please be sure to wear a mask.”

Im Tae-bong, head of Jeju's COVID-19 Quarantine Response Promotion Team, said, “We assess that the recent sharp increase in confirmed cases has made the fourth large-scale wave a reality.” He added, “Infections are occurring in enclosed indoor places such as karaoke practice rooms (including coin karaoke rooms), PC rooms, and entertainment bars, leading to chain infections at home and workplaces. We plan to strongly crack down on violations of quarantine rules.”

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