Easing Quarantine Measures for Entrants from China?… Jeong Gi-seok Says "China Must Transparently Disclose Information"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] Jeong Gi-seok, head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team and member of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, stated on the 6th that if China transparently discloses COVID-19 information such as confirmed cases, severe case rates, and death counts, quarantine measures for arrivals from China could be lifted.

At the regular briefing that day, Jeong said, "I understand that the epidemic situation in China has significantly decreased to the point where there is no congestion in major city hospitals," but "this does not directly reflect the epidemic situation in China at all."

To minimize the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and variants in China on South Korea, the government has implemented measures since the 2nd of last month, including mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing after arrival for travelers from China and restrictions on issuing short-term visas. From the 5th of the same month, submission of a negative COVID-19 test certificate within 48 hours before entry was also mandated.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on this day, 178 short-term foreign visitors arriving at Incheon International Airport from China on the 5th underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, with 2 confirmed positive cases. The positivity rate was 1.1%, 0.4 percentage points lower than the previous day's 1.5%. The positivity rate among short-term visitors, which once exceeded 30% per day, has recently remained between 0 and 1%.

Regarding this, Jeong emphasized, "A 0% positivity rate after arrival testing means that testing in China and our country's testing are consistent," and "we should not conclude that the epidemic in China is over just because 0% continues to appear." He added, "There are data released daily worldwide. If China's data is included in those, we could be more reassured and take a more proactive approach to various measures related to China."

Meanwhile, Jeong anticipated that infections might increase due to adjustments in indoor mask mandates and urged high-risk groups to receive the updated vaccine. According to Jeong, receiving the updated vaccine results in ▲a 50% reduction in COVID-19 infection, ▲a 50% reduction in severe cases and mortality, ▲a 20-30% reduction in the probability of COVID-19 sequelae, and ▲side effects occurring at one-tenth the rate compared to the original vaccine.