 |
| People enjoying their vacations at Hamdeok Beach on Jeju Island, Tuesday, a day before the beach was shut down in accordance with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province's decision to raise the level of the social distancing measures to the highest level of 4 in an effort to curb a spike in COVID-19 cases on the island. Yonhap |
Jeju raises social distancing measures to level 4 amid increasing infections
By Jun Ji-hye
These days, it is not hard to come across online posts from young people looking for travel companions during their summer vacations, as well as during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, despite mounting concern over the ongoing fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, led by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Those uploading such posts ask complete strangers online to join their trips to various locations, such as the southern resort island of Jeju or Gangwon Province that boast beautiful beaches.
"I am looking for companions who can travel around Jeju Island with me at the end of August. I prefer those who have a driver license as I don't. Let's enjoy swimming and fishing in the ocean together," one user recently wrote in an online travel community.
The reasons for looking for travel companions online are varied. Some are seeking to save travel expenses, while others are expecting romance in their travel destinations.
This practice is raising concerns, as gatherings of random people could increase the possibility of the spread of infections. However, it has continued although Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and the health authorities have repeatedly called on people to refrain from going out or going on trips in order to cooperate with the government's virus containment efforts.
Ahead of the National Liberation Day long weekend, from Saturday to Monday, Kim said in a statement to the nation: "The government asks the people to minimize their meetings and activities, and to stay home with family members during the holiday."
An official from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that the notion of strangers from various regions gathering and travelling together is a "dangerous kind of behavior," especially when the country is fighting yet another wave of infections that has spread from the Seoul metropolitan area to other parts of the country.
"If any infections occur in those gatherings after they return to their respective towns, it will be more difficult to trace the infection routes," he said.
 |
| A road near a beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is crowded with cars Monday, the last day of the National Liberation Day long weekend. Yonhap |
In response, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province decided to raise the level of social distancing measures on the island to the highest level, in a bid to curb the spike in COVID-19 cases there.
Level 4, the highest in the country's four-tier plan, took effect starting Wednesday, and will currently last through Aug. 29 on the island. It bans private gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m. and the operation of entertainment establishments, including nightclubs and bars.
The Jeju provincial government also shut down 12 designated beaches starting Wednesday.
Ahead of these announcements in Jeju, Gangneung in Gangwon Province raised its social distancing measures to Level 4, July 19, becoming the first non-capital region to do so.
The city then lowered them by one notch to Level 3, July 27, in consideration of small business owners there who have relied heavily on sales during the summer peak season. But the city is facing continued calls to raise the level again amid a resurgence in infections in the region.
Mindful of the possibility of infections spreading among vacationers, Prime Minister Kim earlier called for companies to check employees returning from their summer vacations to see if they have any symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as fever.
![[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8b795a8f6b42492db4e8fdc47e9abd8d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
