[Q&A] Special Entry Procedures Applied to Arrivals Before Implementation... "Additional Quarantine Facilities at Airport"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government has decided to expand the special entry procedures to all domestic and foreign entrants in response to the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Kim Kang-lip, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, announced at a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 16th, "From 0:00 on the 19th, the scope of the special entry procedures will be expanded to include all domestic and foreign entrants."

If the special entry procedures are expanded to all entrants, the number of subjects is expected to increase to about 13,000. Currently, the procedures are applied to all flight routes from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Iran, and Europe, with 2,130 subjects as of the previous day.

Kim, the 1st Chief Coordinator, explained, "This measure is to strongly block the re-entry of overseas risk factors into the country, considering the numerous confirmed cases occurring during the quarantine process of entrants and the global speed of COVID-19 transmission." In fact, confirmed cases from quarantine results of entrants were 1 on the 13th, 3 on the 14th, and 2 on the 15th.

Accordingly, all entrants must complete a health status questionnaire and a special quarantine declaration form, which are distributed in advance on the aircraft, starting from 0:00 on the 19th. Through quarantine at the arrival hall, fever checks will be conducted, quarantine investigations for symptomatic individuals will be carried out, and diagnostic tests will be administered if necessary.

◇Below is a Q&A with Chief Coordinator Kim regarding the expansion of special entry procedures

- Have you considered additional measures in preparation for a rapid increase in confirmed cases among entrants?

▲ At this point, we will focus first on the universal application of the special entry procedures. By expanding the application to all entrants entering the country from the 19th, we plan to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation and external risk factors.

Just yesterday, additional confirmed cases occurred in about 10 countries, so we are closely watching the trend of international infection spread. We will also review additional measures such as mandatory self-quarantine while observing how each country is responding and the direction of international cooperation.

- What is the scale of additional personnel and the plan for reinforcement?

▲ First, 73 additional personnel will be deployed at the quarantine stage. There is also a possibility that additional facilities will be needed due to the expansion of entry procedures. Currently, there is a quarantine facility for about 50 people at Incheon International Airport. It is a place where entrants can wait for about a day until test results come out. If additional quarantine facilities are operated due to the expansion of special entry procedures, 15 personnel will be needed. This includes 3 military doctors from the Ministry of National Defense and 12 personnel responsible for patient transport, totaling 15. Therefore, a total of 88 personnel will be required for quarantine and quarantine facilities combined.

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