"COVID-19 High-Risk Country Entrants Must Submit Negative Test Certificate Within 48 Hours" (Update)

On the 18th, when the aviation industry was hit hard by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), citizens visiting the observation deck at Incheon International Airport were looking at the aircraft grounded at the airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As concerns about further spread have increased due to the recent rise in imported cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the government has decided to strengthen entry management measures.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 10th, "The risk of imported cases spreading to domestic community infections is almost nonexistent and the risk level has significantly decreased, but since it could burden our quarantine and medical system, we have prepared countermeasures."

Accordingly, starting from the 13th, all foreigners entering from 'countries subject to strengthened quarantine' with high infection rates must submit a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test certificate issued within 48 hours from the departure date.

In addition, from the previous day, regular flights are operated with a seat occupancy rate of 60% or less, and restrictions on re-entry permits have been implemented for those departing to countries subject to strengthened quarantine.

Yoon explained, "For the 26 countries with direct flight routes, we plan to conduct on-site inspections through overseas diplomatic missions to ensure thorough management before boarding the aircraft."

Irregular flights from countries judged to have a high risk of a sudden surge in imported cases will also be reduced by monitoring the number of imported confirmed cases in real time.

Yoon added, "Going forward, the government will regularly conduct risk assessments by closely monitoring overseas confirmed case trends and the number of imported cases to take timely necessary measures."