South Korea said on Friday it will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travelers from China, joining the United States, Japan and other countries in taking new border measures after Beijing’s decision to lift strict zero-COVID policies.
South Korea will also restrict the issuance of short-term visas for Chinese citizens until the end of next month and temporarily halt the increase in flights from China while using Incheon International Airport as the only gateway for any flights from the neighboring country. said Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. .
Beginning January 5, travelers from China will be required to present a negative PCR test result no later than 48 hours or a rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours prior to departure, and undergo another PCR test. upon arrival from January 2, officials. said.
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South Korean authorities said the new restrictions were necessary after Beijing stopped publishing daily data on cases, raising concerns about a new wave of infections and mutations.
While most of the new rules will be in place until the end of February, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said they could be extended.
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Beginning in early January, travelers arriving from China will be required to present a negative rapid antigen test result within 24 hours or a PCR test no more than 48 hours prior to departure. They will also have to undergo another PCR test upon arrival. Pictured: Passengers queue at a COVID testing center at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, on December 3, 2021.
(SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We urgently need to prepare for any internal domino effects following the easing of China’s quarantine rules,” Han said. “We will prepare to take stronger measures in case the situation worsens, if we see a rapid increase in newly infected infections. arrivals or the appearance of new variants”.
South Korea also aims to limit the sale of cold medicines to discourage people from hoarding or buying to sell abroad, the Health Ministry said on Friday, adding that details of the plan will be discussed next week. .
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Customs officials will intensify inspections of cold medicines being brought out of the country. South Korean media reported cases of Chinese visitors buying large quantities at pharmacies.
“We will vigorously address… the recently reported hoarding of cold medicines and concerns about an adverse effect on the supply of cold medicines,” the ministry said in a statement.
This month, China began dismantling the world’s strictest COVID lockdown and comprehensive testing regime in an abrupt policy shift, prompting countries to impose or consider imposing restrictions on travelers from China amid a surge in the cases there.
