Positive Rate of Short-Term Chinese Arrivals on Previous Day at 31.5%... Increasing for Three Consecutive Days (Comprehensive)

On the afternoon of the 2nd, when mandatory COVID-19 testing for arrivals from China began, a passenger was filling out a health questionnaire at the Incheon Airport arrival hall. From this day forward, all arrivals from China must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
/ Yeongjongdo - Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] On the 4th, the third day of implementing high-intensity quarantine measures for arrivals from China, more than 30% of short-term visitors tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 5th, among the 1,924 arrivals from China the previous day, 327 short-term visitors staying less than 90 days underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, resulting in 103 positive cases (31.5%). The positivity rate among short-term arrivals from China increased consecutively for three days: 19.7% → 26.0% → 31.5%.

Since the 2nd, the government has mandated that short-term visitors arriving from China must undergo PCR testing at a testing center located outside the arrival hall of Incheon Airport. Over three days, 239 out of 917 cumulative confirmed short-term cases (26.1%) were identified. Starting today, submission of a negative COVID-19 test certificate prior to arrival from China is mandatory, raising attention to whether the positivity rate will decrease.

As of midnight today, 64,106 new domestic COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 29,363,272. This is 14,469 fewer than the previous day (78,575) and 7,321 fewer than a week ago on the 29th (71,427). The number of cases has been decreasing for nine consecutive days compared to a week ago since the 28th of last month. Imported cases increased by 22 to 194 compared to the previous day.

The number of critically ill patients hospitalized decreased by 52 to 571, dropping into the 500s. There were 66 additional deaths, bringing the cumulative death toll to 32,421, with a fatality rate of 0.11%.

As of midnight today, the additional winter vaccination rate was 31.2% for those aged 60 and over, and 54.8% for residents in infection-vulnerable facilities.