Government: "Korea-China flights increased to 80 times weekly by the end of this month... Stable situation in China continues"

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] Following the resumption of short-term visa issuance from China, the government will increase the number of international flights between Korea and China from 62 to 80 per week by the end of this month.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 17th that it decided this after discussing the risk assessment of the COVID-19 situation in China and quarantine measures on the same day.

As of midnight on the day, the number of new domestic confirmed cases was 11,436, the infection reproduction number was 0.81, and the number of new critically ill patients was 216, showing a continuous decline. The positive rate of tests for arrivals from China has steadily decreased from 18.4% (21.9% for short-term visitors) in the first week of January to 0.7% (1.5% for short-term visitors) in the second week of February. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters explained that the COVID-19 situation has passed its peak and is transitioning to a stabilization phase.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to gradually increase the number of international flights between Korea and China to 100 per week, the level agreed upon by both countries, starting next month. The government stated that it will continue to closely monitor new variants and block overseas inflows, while considering the stable domestic quarantine situation and medical response capacity, and will do its best to expand the scope of daily life recovery.

Meanwhile, in response to the recent stable quarantine situation with a decrease in confirmed and critically ill patients, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will adjust the COVID-19 briefings from three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to twice a week (Monday, Wednesday) starting next week. On Mondays, the COVID-19 Special Response Team will hold expert briefings, and on Wednesdays, briefings will be held immediately after the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting.