No Health Issues Reported for Koreans Quarantined in Weihai, China

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] While quarantine and control measures for arrivals from Korea are being implemented at airports across various regions in China, the health status of Koreans who entered through Weihai Airport in Shandong Province is reported to be good so far.

On the 26th, a diplomatic source in Beijing explained, "A total of 19 Koreans who arrived at Weihai Airport via Jeju Air flight reached the designated hotel on the afternoon of the 25th, and they are scheduled to undergo COVID-19 related tests over two days, from the 26th to the 27th. So far, no health abnormalities have been identified." The source added, "According to the notice, a 14-day quarantine is the principle, but our side is currently requesting that if the test results are normal, the quarantine be changed to self-isolation."

Also, among Koreans who boarded the Asiana Airlines flight from Incheon to Nanjing the previous day and were quarantined as a group, it has been confirmed that the quarantined Koreans are waiting at the designated hotel for COVID-19 related tests.

A diplomatic source said, "The Nanjing government quarantined about 100 passengers seated around three Chinese passengers who showed fever symptoms, including 65 Koreans," and explained, "Currently, 65 Koreans are quarantined at the hotel, and related tests are scheduled."

Control measures for arrivals from Korea in various regions of China are increasingly expanding and strengthening.

In Dalian, Liaoning Province, where many Korean companies and residents live, since the previous day, quarantine staff board flights arriving from Korea and Japan at the airport to conduct temperature checks on all passengers. In Shenyang, Liaoning Province, quarantine for flights from Korea has been strengthened; when Koreans disembark, they are transported by designated vehicles to hospitals for COVID-19 testing. Even if the test results are negative, they must return home and self-isolate.

In some areas such as Shenyang and Beijing, warning notifications have been issued to local residents advising them to avoid areas with many Koreans as much as possible. In Shanghai, it is reported that temperature checks were conducted on Koreans who had been in the country for two weeks after entry. Starting from the 26th, Shanghai officially requires a two-week quarantine for residents who left Shanghai and re-entered.

The central government of China appears to be passive and supportive of local governments' measures to strengthen control over Korean arrivals. Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized at a press briefing on the afternoon of the previous day, "Protecting the lives, safety, and health of one's own citizens and safeguarding regional and global public health security in the face of infectious diseases is a responsibility that every country must bear."

As online disputes between Koreans and Chinese flare up over China's strengthening of regional control levels to prevent COVID-19 re-importation, China has also begun a rationalization campaign using the media.

On this day, the Chinese state-run Global Times explained, "Strict measures such as enhanced quarantine for arrivals may be seen as contrasting with the goodwill and assistance neighboring countries showed China during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, but these methods are China's practical, scientific, and reasonable responses." The newspaper added, "These methods chosen by China are the only way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If reinfection spreads again, the COVID-19 control efforts so far will be in vain, and the global fight against COVID-19 will enter a deadlock."