Concerns Over Novel Coronavirus... "Temporary Ban on Cruise Ships Entering Domestic Ports" (Update)

Taiwanese Cruise Ship Returning Due to Denial of Entry to Japan
Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government will ban the entry of cruise ships into the country for a certain period due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

Kim Kang-rip, Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), announced at a regular briefing on the 10th, "The entry of two cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Busan on the 11th and 12th has been canceled." Additionally, the entry of two cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Busan and Jeju on the 23rd and 24th, and another cruise ship arriving in Busan on the 27th, will also be prohibited.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters made this decision after consulting with related ministries including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Ministry of Justice to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, entry for the purpose of refueling and supplying goods will be allowed.

The Headquarters explained, "We judged that banning entry is an effective way to prevent the domestic spread of infectious diseases because the risk of infectious disease transmission is relatively high due to close contact in confined spaces on cruise ships."

Previously, on the cruise ship 'Diamond Princess' docked at Yokohama Port, Japan, 70 out of 336 passengers were confirmed to have the novel coronavirus as of the 9th.

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