87 Symptomatic Entrants from the U.S. and 14 Short-term Foreign Visitors Tested
16 Symptomatic Among Korean Residents Arriving on Charter Flight from Peru... Others Under Special Entry Procedures
"Expanding Domestic Production Base for Protective Gear for Medical Staff to Reduce Import Dependence"
On the 27th, an asymptomatic foreigner who arrived on a passenger flight from Los Angeles at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport is boarding a bus heading to a temporary testing facility to undergo a COVID-19 diagnostic test. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] On the 27th, the government announced that a total of 1,294 Korean and foreign nationals arrived in South Korea from the United States. The U.S. has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, exceeding 100,000, among individual countries. Among the entrants, over 100 people, including those with symptoms such as fever and cough or short-term foreign visitors, underwent diagnostic testing to check for COVID-19 infection. Those without symptoms were classified as subjects for a 2-week self-quarantine.
Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters’ Quarantine Division, stated at a briefing on the 28th, "Among the 1,294 entrants from the U.S., about 85% are Korean nationals and 15% are foreigners. Among them, 87 symptomatic individuals and 14 short-term foreign visitors were preemptively quarantined at the airport and underwent diagnostic testing. If positive, they receive treatment at hospitals or residential treatment centers depending on the severity. Asymptomatic Koreans or long-term foreign residents are subject to mandatory 2-week self-quarantine." If symptoms develop during self-quarantine, diagnostic testing must be conducted. However, self-quarantine does not automatically qualify for living expense support.
Among 198 Korean residents arriving at Incheon Airport on a charter flight from Peru that day, 16 were symptomatic. They will undergo diagnostic testing after specimen collection. The remaining residents underwent enhanced quarantine procedures and special inspection upon entry.
Meanwhile, according to the government, inspections of approximately 82,000 indoor sports facilities such as fitness centers, martial arts academies, and sports dojos, conducted jointly with local governments, found about 10% of facilities inadequately prepared for quarantine measures, resulting in administrative guidance. Administrative orders were issued to 407 facilities.
The government also announced plans to expand the domestic production base for protective suits used by medical staff treating COVID-19 patients to ensure stable supply, reducing reliance on imports. Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for quarantine supplies has surged worldwide, and this measure is to prepare for potential difficulties in procuring finished products. The government will also sign long-term purchase contracts with these manufacturers to improve production predictability and stability, and provide technical support to strengthen the domestic protective suit production base in the long term.
Yoon said, "We have been preparing to shift from overseas processing and imports to utilizing domestic sewing companies. Collaborating with local sewing cooperatives and domestic companies, we plan to produce and supply most of the required quantities domestically, with 1.55 million suits in April and 2 million suits monthly thereafter starting in May."
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