COVID-19 Control Strengthened... 407 Koreans Quarantined in Hotels in China

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] As China strengthens entry management at the central government level to prevent the re-importation of COVID-19, it has been confirmed that a total of 407 Koreans have been placed under hotel quarantine across various parts of China so far.

According to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China on the 2nd, from noon the previous day to noon on the day, 299 Koreans newly arrived in various regions of China were added to hotel quarantine. Cumulatively, 309 have been under self-quarantine and 407 under hotel quarantine, totaling 716 Koreans quarantined in China.

The 299 newly hotel-quarantined Koreans arrived at airports in Shandong Province, Hebei Province, and Shanxi Province the previous day. One Chinese passenger who arrived at Qingdao Airport in Shandong Province via Shandong Airlines showed fever symptoms, leading to the quarantine of all passengers in hotels. Two Koreans who arrived at Qingdao Airport via Korean Air also showed fever symptoms, resulting in their passengers being quarantined in hotels. In Weihai, Shandong Province, Asiana Airlines passengers were quarantined in hotels due to one Chinese passenger showing fever symptoms.

In Tianjin, Hebei Province, one Korean passenger on Air China showed fever symptoms, and all passengers were quarantined in designated hotels. In Xi'an, Shanxi Province, among Asiana Airlines passengers, one Chinese passenger showed fever symptoms, leading to hotel quarantine of all passengers. If the COVID-19 test results of the febrile individuals are negative, the passengers quarantined in hotels will be required to self-quarantine at home after returning.

Meanwhile, starting from this day, the Guangdong Provincial Government in China has fully implemented a 14-day hotel quarantine for arrivals from Korea. If Korean arrivals to China continue, the number of Koreans subject to hotel quarantine is expected to increase.

According to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Guangzhou, the Guangdong government announced that from this day forward, all visitors (regardless of nationality) arriving from Korea to Guangdong Province (Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports and ports) will be subject to a full 14-day quarantine.

Those arriving from Korea to Guangdong Province will be moved to a separate location (nearby hotels, etc.) upon arrival for nucleic acid testing. If the test result is negative, they will be quarantined in designated hotels for 14 days, after which no additional self-quarantine is required. If the test result is positive, they will be transferred to designated hospitals.

The time required for testing and obtaining results is about 1 to 2 days. Designated hotels vary depending on the local government jurisdiction (city, district, county), and quarantine costs are self-paid.

Regarding the self-payment of quarantine costs, the Consulate General is strongly protesting to the Guangdong government. The Consulate General stated, "If there are any changes regarding costs, we will notify again," and urged, "All those planning to visit Guangdong Province should reconsider their visit unless it is urgent until the situation changes."

Meanwhile, the Chinese government announced strengthened entry management guidelines at the central government level to prevent re-importation of COVID-19.

This formalizes the previously known local government-level measures to strengthen management of arrivals from Korea at the central government level. At a press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office the previous day, Lin Wei, Director of the Health Quarantine Department of the General Administration of Customs, stated that 100% health record declarations and comprehensive temperature checks will be conducted for all entrants and exits, and stricter quarantine and investigations will be carried out for symptomatic individuals, arrivals from high-risk areas, and close contacts to block re-importation. Confirmed cases, suspected cases, symptomatic individuals, and close contacts will be separately classified and uniformly quarantined, accompanied by hospital testing.

Although no specific countries were mentioned, since Korea and Japan are classified as high-risk countries, this announcement at the central government level implies official recognition that the government may impose strengthened testing and quarantine measures on arrivals from Korea. China emphasized that cooperation from all countries is essential as these measures are to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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