Government Deeply Considering Additional Entry and Exit Restrictions... "Still Manageable, Maintain Current Status" (Comprehensive)

Government Holds Accident Response Headquarters Meeting Chaired by Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun
Park Neung-hoo: "Novel Coronavirus Under Control Within Management Scope, No Super-Spreader"
Encouraging Installation of Self-Health Check App for Entrants from China

Park Neung-hoo, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, is briefing the results after a meeting at the Government Seoul Office on the 9th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government has judged that the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in Korea is currently controlled within a manageable scope and decided not to expand additional entry restrictions to other regions. However, those entering from China will be required to install a dedicated application, and management of those subject to self-quarantine due to contact with confirmed patients will be strengthened. The number of countries providing travel history information to frontline hospitals and clinics will gradually increase to include those who have visited countries with rising novel coronavirus cases such as Singapore and Thailand.

Park Neung-hoo, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), announced the novel coronavirus response plan after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun on the 9th. Minister Park explained, "(At today's meeting) the majority agreed that the current situation is well managed and that the actual number of Chinese entrants has significantly decreased over the past week," adding, "Even without new additional entry bans, the intended entry restrictions and reduction of entrants have already been implemented, so we decided to maintain the current status until the situation changes drastically."

The infectious disease crisis alert remains at the current 'caution' level, but since responses are being handled at the higher 'serious' level, comprehensive quarantine measures are being reviewed; however, it is not yet time to introduce additional measures.

Travel History from Countries Outside China to Be Provided Gradually Starting the 11th
Currently, Only Travel History to China Is Available
Self-Quarantine Management for Contacts Handled by Ministry of the Interior and Safety

As a measure to block the domestic inflow of the novel coronavirus, the installation of a mobile 'self-diagnosis app' was confirmed at the meeting. Currently, all entrants from China undergo a special entry procedure to verify their domestic residence and contact information, during which passengers will be required to install an app on their smartphones to check their symptoms. This is a measure to secure daily self-diagnosis results from entrants from China. However, this applies only if the entrant has a smartphone. The app operates by connecting to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call center (1339) if symptoms develop. Additionally, travel to areas where community infection has been confirmed is strongly discouraged.

To prevent infectious disease inflow through regions outside China, the number of countries subject to travel history checks in the Eligibility Verification System for Medical Benefits, Overseas Travel History Information System (ITS), and Drug Utilization Review (DUR) will increase. Starting the 11th, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam will be included, and from the 13th, travel to Japan and Hong Kong will also be tracked. From the 17th, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Macao will be added. Currently, only China is monitored.

Foreign tourists wearing masks are passing in front of the COVID-19 screening clinic installed on the Myeongdong shopping street in Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The responsibility for managing self-quarantine subjects, currently handled by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and local governments under the Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters, will be transferred to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. A cooperative system with local governments and police will be established. This is to enable faster responses to those who do not comply with quarantine or whose whereabouts are unknown. Each local government will designate additional quarantine facilities, and a regional disaster safety countermeasure headquarters led by the provincial governor will be activated.

As cases of transmission during mild symptom stages increase, the number of diagnostic reagent manufacturers and private testing institutions will be expanded to enable approximately 10,000 diagnostic tests per day by the end of this month. Currently, about 3,000 tests can be conducted daily, so this will increase more than threefold. Compensation for losses will be provided to medical institutions cooperating with quarantine measures, and prepayment options will be considered even before the current situation ends.

To prepare for community spread of infectious diseases, hospital beds and personnel will be secured. For negative pressure treatment beds, the 198 nationally designated inpatient treatment beds at stage 1 will be utilized first, and operational plans will be developed including regional base hospitals, infectious disease management institutions, military hospitals, and private hospitals. It is expected that about 1,000 beds can be secured in total.

The immediate response teams activated upon patient occurrence currently number about 10 teams but will be increased to 30, and the treatment of epidemiological investigators will be improved. According to the guidelines for group facilities and multi-use facilities prepared on the 3rd, venues such as theaters and cinemas are recommended to restrict attendance of entrants from China for 14 days.

President Moon Jae-in is moving to a nearby residents' meeting hall after receiving a status report at the Jincheon Government Officials Training Institute, where Korean evacuees from Wuhan, China, are temporarily staying due to the spread of the novel coronavirus on the 9th.

Government Decides to Deploy Additional Temporary Flights to Evacuate Wuhan Residents
"Among Approximately 230 Locals, About 100 Expected to Return... Including Chinese Family Members"
Temporary Quarantine Facilities After Return Yet to Be Determined

Additional temporary flights (charter flights) to bring back Korean residents remaining in Wuhan will be operated soon in consultation with the Chinese government. Unlike the first and second rounds conducted at the end of last month and early this month, Chinese family members of Korean nationals will also be allowed. Family members include spouses, parents, and children. According to the local consulate general, about 230 residents including families remain in Wuhan, and the Korean government expects about 100 to apply.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stated, "We will assess demand by midnight today, and although the exact schedule is undecided, we plan to proceed as soon as possible," adding, "There are no plans to withdraw the Wuhan consulate general, and regarding travel advisories, we maintain a recommendation to refrain from travel to all regions of China and a travel ban on Hubei Province." She further added, "Regarding additional entry restrictions, decisions will be made after comprehensively reviewing the spread and trends of the infectious disease, our quarantine and inspection preparedness, international community measures, and WHO recommendations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.