Jeju Region Reports 31 COVID-19 Cases in One Day on the 8th, 'Highest This Year'

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] The Jeju region has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 confirmed cases this year.

According to Jeju's quarantine authorities on the 9th, a total of 2,096 COVID-19 diagnostic tests were conducted the previous day, and among them, 31 people (Jeju #1322~#1352) tested positive.

The 31 confirmed cases in a single day is the highest number this year and the second highest ever, following 32 cases on December 22 last year, the peak of the third wave.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the region has increased to 931, with 87 cases confirmed this month.

There have been double-digit confirmed cases for three consecutive days: 19 on the 6th, 17 on the 7th, and 31 the previous day.

In the past week, 84 confirmed cases have been reported, raising the daily average of new cases to 12.

This exceeds the criteria for raising to level 2 and is close to the level 3 escalation.

The weekly infection reproduction number increased from 2.41 the previous day to 3.29, marking the highest level since analysis of the reproduction number began on November 8 last year.

The sharp increase in confirmed cases in the province is due to cluster infections linked to two entertainment bars, as well as a large number of confirmed cases among crew members of a ship registered in another region.

Following 14 confirmed cases over three days at the Sunflower Karaoke Bar on Myeongdong-ro, Seogwipo City, whose movement paths were disclosed on the 6th, 9 people tested positive in one day at a newly classified cluster infection at the Waterpark Entertainment Bar in Yeondong, Jeju City, the previous day.

On a ship registered in Busan that docked in Jeju, 17 out of 20 crew members (1336~1352) tested positive the previous day, but no further transmission to Jeju society is expected.

The crew members of the ship were informed that they had come into contact with confirmed cases in Busan while en route to a port in Jeju, and they underwent COVID-19 testing on board without disembarking.

They were classified as confirmed cases in Jeju after testing there, did not stay in Jeju, and all departed again for Busan Port, where they are scheduled to receive isolation treatment.

Among the confirmed cases the previous day was a public official. The confirmed official is known to have visited the Waterpark Entertainment Bar and consumed alcohol. Jeju Province is conducting an inspection, viewing this as a violation of the quarantine guidelines for public officials that prohibit gatherings after 10 p.m.

Currently, Jeju Province prohibits all public officials from having dinners or private gatherings after 10 p.m. until the 14th, and COVID-19 tests are being conducted on 18 people working in the same department as the confirmed official, who have been instructed to work from home.

Meanwhile, Jeju Province plans to hold an emergency countermeasure meeting this afternoon to announce whether to raise social distancing levels.

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won captain@asiae.co.kr

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