Temporary Flight Carrying 198 Koreans 'Isolated in Peru' Arrives at Incheon... 14-Day Self-Quarantine After Screening

Including Korean travelers, KOICA volunteers, and employees of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency... Costs borne individually
If a confirmed case arises, all passengers will be moved to temporary living facilities for 14 days
Peruvian government extends nationwide quarantine period until the 12th of next month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A total of 198 Koreans stranded in Peru due to the country's border closure amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) safely returned to Korea via a temporary flight arranged by the Korean government.

On the 26th (local time) at around 4:11 PM, an AeroMexico flight (AMX9978) carrying 198 overseas Koreans and Korean travelers took off from Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima, Peru, and landed at Incheon International Airport at 5:52 AM on the 28th, earlier than the scheduled time of 6:20 AM. The temporary flight included Korean travelers who had visited Peru, overseas Koreans, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) volunteers, and employees of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency.

The AeroMexico temporary flight arranged by the Korean government made a stopover in Tijuana, Mexico, for refueling. All 198 passengers were reported to have no fever symptoms.

The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency on the 15th to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ordered all citizens to self-quarantine. On the 17th, all entries and exits were banned. As a result, Korean travelers in Peru were unable to return home, and overseas Koreans and KOICA volunteers wishing to return to avoid COVID-19 were stranded.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began negotiations with the Peruvian government through diplomatic channels and obtained permission to operate the temporary flight. Earlier, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Peru mobilized flights and seven buses on the 25th and 26th local time to transport Koreans stranded across Peru to the capital, Lima.

The cost of using this temporary flight is borne by the individual. For the Cusco-Lima route, the cost is 500,000 KRW per adult, and for the Lima-Incheon route, it is 3,500,000 KRW per person.

In Peru, temporary flights from countries including Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are also transporting their nationals. Passengers returning this time must undergo COVID-19 testing and self-quarantine for 14 days under strengthened quarantine measures. If any confirmed cases are found among them, all passengers must stay in temporary living facilities for 14 days.

Meanwhile, the Peruvian government, which declared a state of emergency as a COVID-19 countermeasure, has decided to extend the quarantine period for all citizens until April 12.

On the 19th, when the government expanded special entry procedures to all incoming travelers worldwide to prevent the influx of COVID-19, passengers suspected of COVID-19 symptoms among those arriving on a passenger flight from Frankfurt, Germany, at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport were using a different passage. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@