COVID-19 Pandemic... Government "Special Entry Procedures to be Applied Worldwide" (Update)

Park Neung-hoo "Applying to Specific Countries is Meaningless"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, the government has decided to apply special entry procedures to all arrivals from every country.

Park Neung-hoo, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the 15th, "I think it is necessary to implement special entry procedures for all foreigners and nationals entering the country soon."

Deputy Park explained, "Since a pandemic is occurring globally, it seems meaningless to apply special entry procedures by distinguishing specific countries."

The special entry procedures involve one-on-one temperature checks regardless of nationality. If there are suspicious symptoms such as coughing or sore throat, it must be reported in advance, and quarantine officers will check the special quarantine declaration form during the entry process. Additionally, entrants must report their domestic address and phone number and install a 'self-diagnosis application (app)' that allows them to report their health status via mobile.

The government has been implementing special entry procedures for all foreigners and nationals entering Korea from China mainland since the 4th of last month, Hong Kong and Macau (on the 12th of last month), Japan (on the 9th), Italy and Iran (on the 12th), and France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands (on the 15th).

Deputy Park stated, "We will prepare to implement special entry procedures for all arrivals as soon as possible by considering whether administrative capacity can sufficiently keep up and what preparations are needed."

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