Due to the Threat of the 'Omicron' Variant... Entry Denied for Foreigners from 8 Countries Including South Africa

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The government has announced measures to prevent the domestic influx of the 'Omicron' COVID-19 variant, which is known to be spreading in Africa, including South Africa.

On the afternoon of the 27th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters held an 'Emergency Overseas Influx Situation Assessment Meeting' with related ministries and designated eight countries?South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi?as enhanced quarantine countries, high-risk countries, and countries excluded from quarantine exemption starting at 0:00 on the 28th. Currently, there are no direct flights from these countries to South Korea.

Currently, entrants from South Africa are quarantined in temporary living facilities for five days and then undergo self-quarantine for five days. However, from now on, visa issuance will be restricted for these eight countries, including South Africa. Foreigners entering via transit from these eight countries will have their passports checked during the boarding process and will be restricted from boarding the aircraft. Even if they board, entry into the country will not be permitted.

Korean nationals will be quarantined in temporary living facilities for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status. This applies even if they have completed all COVID-19 vaccinations domestically before departure. They must present a negative PCR test result before arrival and undergo diagnostic tests on days 1, 5, and before release from quarantine. Quarantine exemptions will be limited and only allowed for attending funerals and similar exceptional cases.

The Omicron variant, first identified in South Africa on the 9th, has been confirmed in about 100 cases, including 77 in South Africa and 19 in Botswana. On the 26th (local time), the WHO designated the Omicron variant as a Variant of Concern (VOC). However, there have been no confirmed Omicron variant cases among entrants to South Korea yet.

The quarantine authorities will continue to monitor the overseas occurrence of Omicron, its domestic influx, and domestic cases, and plan to develop and distribute a variant PCR test through analysis of the Omicron S protein gene.