US State Department and CDC Raise South Korea Travel Alert to Level 2: "Reports of Community Spread"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Department of State has raised the travel advisory level for South Korea and Japan to Level 2 in relation to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also upgraded the travel advisory for South Korea to Level 2.

On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. Department of State announced that it had raised the travel advisory for South Korea to Level 2. Until now, the travel advisory for South Korea had been maintained at Level 1. The Department of State explained that while many COVID-19 cases were related to travel to mainland China or close contact during travel, continuous community spread has been reported in South Korea, which is the reason for the measure.

The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory is divided into four levels: Level 1 "Exercise Normal Precautions," Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution," Level 3 "Reconsider Travel," and Level 4 "Do Not Travel." On the same day, the Department also issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Japan.

The U.S. CDC also issued a Level 2 "Alert" travel advisory for South Korea. The CDC's travel advisory levels are divided into Level 1 "Watch," Level 2 "Alert," and Level 3 "Warning." Separate from these three levels, there is a category for "Other Areas with Widespread Community Transmission." Previously, South Korea had been designated as a "Community Spread Country" and has now been classified as Level 2. The CDC also upgraded the travel advisory for Japan to Level 2 on the same day.

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