Taiwan Issues Level 1 Travel Alert for South Korea... Will the U.S. Follow?

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young and Lee Hyun-woo] In relation to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Taiwan's health authorities have designated South Korea as a Level 1 travel alert area, along with Japan and Thailand. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had earlier issued a Level 1 travel alert for Japan, and there is growing interest in whether South Korea will also be included.

According to Taiwan's China Times on the 21st, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control designated South Korea as a Level 1 travel caution area on the same day. Taiwan's travel alerts are divided into three levels, and South Korea was classified at Level 1 along with Japan and Thailand. Singapore is classified as Level 2, while mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau are classified as Level 3. Taiwan is the first country to designate South Korea as a COVID-19 risk area and issue a travel alert.

Taiwan's measure is interpreted as a response to the rapid increase in confirmed cases in South Korea over the past two to three days. As of 10 a.m. on the 21st, the number of confirmed cases in South Korea surged to 156. The South Korean government defined the COVID-19 situation as being in the "early stage of community transmission" the day before.

Attention is focused on whether major countries such as the United States will follow Taiwan's measures. According to foreign media including CNN, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 1 travel alert for Japan and Hong Kong the day before in relation to the spread of COVID-19. Japan became the first travel alert target outside the Chinese-speaking regions. A Level 1 travel alert corresponds to a caution level advising travelers to take usual preventive measures. Apart from Japan and Hong Kong, the only other country for which the CDC has issued a travel alert due to COVID-19 is China, which is at Level 3. The CDC's travel alerts are classified into Level 1 'Watch,' Level 2 'Alert,' and the highest Level 3 'Warning.'

The CDC explained, "In Japan, cases of community spread without contact with mainland China have been reported, and the infection routes are unknown," adding, "We do not recommend canceling or postponing travel to Japan, but travelers should avoid contact with others during their trip." As of the day before, Japan had a total of 728 confirmed cases, including 634 infections on the cruise ship Diamond Princess docked at Yokohama Port, and three deaths. South Korea reported its first death on the 20th.

However, it is known that the United States has not previously issued travel alerts specifically for South Korea. Travel alerts for foreign countries are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said regarding the possibility of additional U.S. travel alerts for other countries, "It is entirely up to the U.S. government and the CDC to decide." However, the official added, "As far as we know, there have been no past travel alerts issued for South Korea."