'Pandemic Fear' Over 100 Countries Ban Entry or Impose Quarantine on Travelers from Korea

Entry Restrictions on Travelers from Korea in 150 Countries... Entry Ban Extends to 90 Countries
South Korean Government Also Expands 'Special Entry Procedures' and Issues 'Travel Advisory'... Preparing for COVID-19 Influx from Europe

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] It has been revealed that the number of countries implementing strict entry bans and quarantine measures has exceeded 100. As the fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic spreads, countries around the world have either completely blocked foreign entries or strengthened existing measures. This trend is expected to continue for the time being.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 17th, among 150 countries (as of 9 a.m.) imposing entry restrictions on travelers from Korea, 90 countries have implemented explicit entry bans, either completely blocking entry or allowing entry only after a certain period has passed since leaving Korea. This represents an increase of nearly 20 countries in one day. Additionally, 17 countries, including China, have imposed quarantine measures on travelers from Korea, bringing the total number of countries taking strict measures to 107.

On the other hand, countries implementing relatively lower-level measures such as enhanced screening or recommending self-quarantine, which exceeded 50 just last week, have decreased to 43. This is because many countries that had been taking lower-level measures have raised their entry restrictions to entry bans.

Bolivia in South America and South Africa have been added to the list of countries banning entry. These countries prohibit entry to foreigners who have visited Korea, China, Italy, or Spain. South Africa, in particular, has suspended the validity of visas issued to foreigners who visited high-risk countries and has also stopped issuing visas to foreigners who visited these countries within 20 days prior to entry.

Peru, which closed its borders, has fully implemented entry and exit bans. Additionally, Argentina, Tunisia, and Panama have changed their policies from self-quarantine to entry bans, and African countries Ghana and Kenya have raised their measures from suspending new visa issuance and recommending self-quarantine to entry bans. Canada will ban entry to all foreigners except Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members, crew members, diplomatic personnel, U.S. citizens, and transit passengers starting at noon on the 18th. Chile will close its borders starting on the 18th.

European countries that had refrained from strict measures are also shifting toward entry bans. Serbia had previously limited entry bans to certain regions in Korea, Italy, Iran, Hubei Province in China, and the Ticino region in Switzerland, but has now expanded the ban to all foreigners. Ukraine, Poland, and Estonia have banned entry to all foreigners, and Uzbekistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have strengthened their measures to entry bans.

The number of countries adopting strict measures is expected to increase for the time being. A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Some countries are easing entry restrictions, but it is difficult to say this is substantial," adding, "Even if the number of confirmed cases in Korea decreases, governments around the world are unlikely to have the leeway to ease restrictions only for Korea."

The Korean government has also begun raising the entry threshold for European countries where confirmed cases are rapidly increasing. The Korean government applied special entry procedures for arrivals from Europe, where COVID-19 cases are surging, and issued a Level 2 travel alert, advising against travel, for 36 European countries.

On the afternoon of the 16th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had issued a Level 2 yellow travel alert advising against travel to 36 countries in Western and Central Europe. The alert targets EU member states or Schengen Agreement signatories with many Korean travelers, including Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the Vatican. The Ministry explained, "This travel alert was issued considering the rapid increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases within Europe, where movement within the region is relatively free, and the growing concern over exposure of our citizens to infection."

As the Malaysian government banned the entry of Korean nationals and foreign travelers from Korea starting at midnight on the 13th (local time) to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Malaysia Airlines counter at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport showed a quiet scene on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min, Yeongjongdo kimhyun81@

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