In the Past Week, 16.2% of Confirmed Cases Were Foreigners... Infection Rate per 100,000 Nine Times Higher for Foreigners than Natives (Update)

On the morning of the 28th, students at Dongseong High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, underwent rapid self-molecular diagnostic gene amplification (rapid PCR) tests as they arrived at school. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education expanded the "Mobile Specimen Collection Team for Educational Facilities" from one team to more than four teams and designated the period until the 6th of next month as an "Intensive Multi-layered Quarantine Period," including a pilot operation of rapid PCR tests at five dormitory-operated schools.
/Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The incidence rate among foreigners per 100,000 people per week was recorded at 208, which is nine times higher than that of natives (23).

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 28th, the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases among foreigners staying in the country over the past week (September 19?25) was 2,305, accounting for 16.2% of all confirmed cases during this period. In particular, the proportion of confirmed cases among people in their 20s and 30s in the metropolitan area was high.

According to the status of COVID-19 cases among foreigners, the numbers have been continuously increasing since the end of June. The number of confirmed foreign cases was 940 in the first week of August, but then increased weekly to 1,379 → 1,664 → 1,642 → 1,778 → 1,804 → 2,305.

Currently, the first-dose vaccination rate among foreigners is 65.7%, and the second-dose vaccination rate is 24.4%, which is lower compared to natives. Accordingly, the government plans to focus on enhancing vaccination among foreigners.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is preparing improvement measures related to vaccination for foreign workers and is promoting follow-up actions.

Local governments are implementing field-centered vaccination measures by directly visiting foreigners to encourage vaccination and will operate one-stop vaccination services considering the convenience and acceptance of foreigners. One-stop vaccination processes identification verification → issuance of temporary management number → registration → vaccination all at once.

Additionally, customized regional vaccination plans will be established and promoted for industrial complexes and other areas densely populated by foreign workers, considering the characteristics of industry types and density patterns. In local government temporary living facilities (57 locations), vaccinations will be administered to long-term foreign residents or natives upon consent at the time of facility admission.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor promotes vaccination in workplaces with fewer than 30 employees and urges strict compliance with quarantine rules through health management specialized institutions and employment agencies. In particular, it plans to focus on informing that even undocumented foreigners can receive vaccinations without any disadvantages.

In Gyeongbuk region, foreigners account for 46% of all confirmed cases

Park Hyang, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters’ quarantine team, said, "In the past week, foreigners accounted for about 16% of all confirmed cases, but in some areas (Gyeongbuk), it reaches as high as 46% of all confirmed cases," adding, "especially for undocumented foreigners, the rate of having received at least one dose is about 53.7%, which is low compared to registered foreigners."

Park said, "The government plans to operate temporary vaccination centers within large industrial complexes where many foreigners work to provide on-site vaccinations for small businesses with five or more employees," and added, "For long-term foreign residents admitted to temporary living facilities managed by local governments, the Janssen vaccine, which completes vaccination with a single dose, is being administered."

Park emphasized, "An administrative order has been issued for proactive testing of foreigners working within workplaces," and "The management system is being further strengthened by making it mandatory to check PCR test results when entering workplaces."

He continued, "Diagnostic testing and vaccination will not be linked to crackdowns or deportation measures," and urged, "Foreigners residing or active in the country should actively receive vaccinations and get tested if they have even the slightest suspicious symptoms."