550 Daily Tests and Temporary Quarantine Facility for 100 Secured... Accelerating Quarantine Response for 'Arrivals from China'

First COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting of the New Year
Focused Discussion on Preparedness for Quarantine Measures

Jo Gyu-hong, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), is presiding over the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As the government decided to further strengthen quarantine measures for arrivals from China, it has launched an all-out effort to secure COVID-19 testing personnel and facilities.

Cho Kyu-hong, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, stated at the CDSCH meeting on the afternoon of the 1st, "The government will thoroughly implement quarantine measures such as pre-arrival PCR testing, airport quarantine upon arrival, and isolation in case of confirmed cases through meticulous prior preparation."

First, in line with the strengthened quarantine measures for arrivals from China, facilities and personnel capable of testing up to 550 people per day have been secured. If a person is classified as symptomatic during airport quarantine, a specimen is collected at the quarantine station and they wait in the isolation facility within the quarantine station. Asymptomatic individuals are tested at the airport testing center within Incheon Airport if they are short-term foreign visitors, and domestic residents or long-term foreign residents are tested by local governments.

To this end, three testing centers have been prepared at Terminals 1 and 2 of Incheon Airport for testing short-term foreign visitors, and about 500 quarantine support personnel have been deployed through cooperation with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and related agencies such as the military, police, and fire departments. Additionally, two separate waiting areas capable of accommodating more than 500 testees each have been established and will be operated within the airport.

Facilities for isolating confirmed arrivals have also been secured. Deputy Head Cho explained, "Currently, a temporary home isolation facility capable of accommodating up to 100 people has been prepared, and additional backup facilities will be secured in Incheon, Seoul, and Gyeonggi Province." Confirmed arrivals will be transferred to the temporary home isolation facility near the airport and quarantined for seven days.

Furthermore, airlines have been instructed to verify whether passengers from China have entered their quarantine information in the pre-entry system (Q-CODE). Boarding will be restricted if the information has not been entered.

Deputy Head Cho emphasized, "Since PCR testing within one day after arrival will be mandatory for arrivals from China starting from the 2nd, we will make every effort to complete prior preparations by today. I ask all ministries to devote their full efforts to ensure smooth implementation of quarantine measures such as mandatory testing before departure from China, visa issuance restrictions, and limitations on additional flights."

The government established strengthened quarantine measures on the 30th of last month in preparation for the COVID-19 outbreak in China, including restricting short-term visa issuance and mandating PCR testing for all arrivals from China. Accordingly, arrivals from China must undergo PCR testing within one day after arrival starting from the 2nd, and from the 5th, all Korean and foreign nationals boarding flights from China to Korea must submit PCR test results within 48 hours or expert rapid antigen test (RAT) results within 24 hours before boarding.

Additionally, short-term visa issuance will be restricted at Chinese diplomatic missions except for diplomatic/official purposes, essential business operations, and humanitarian reasons. This effectively blocks short-term domestic travel from China. Furthermore, some flights from China will be reduced, and additional increases will be restricted. Currently, flights arriving at four airports from China will be consolidated to Incheon Airport for stable management of arrivals.