[Q&A] Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for All Arrivals from Europe... "Situation More Severe Than in Jung"

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 to Implement Strengthened Quarantine Measures
"Isolation and Testing of All Based on Symptoms... Followed by Self-Quarantine and Active Monitoring"

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Quarantine Task Force at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Public Health Policy Officer at the Ministry of Health and Welfare), is holding a regular briefing on the results of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response on the morning of the 20th at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Daeyeol and Cho Hyun-ui] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) surges across European countries, our government has decided to conduct COVID-19 diagnostic tests on all domestic and foreign nationals entering from Europe. Upon arrival at the airport, individuals will be assessed for symptoms and placed in different quarantine facilities before undergoing testing. Even if the test result is negative, domestic nationals and long-term foreign residents must self-quarantine for two weeks.

On the 20th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced enhanced quarantine measures for arrivals from Europe. According to the plan, starting from 0:00 on the 22nd, all domestic and foreign nationals entering Korea from Europe will undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Previously, from the 19th, our quarantine authorities expanded special entry procedures for arrivals from all European regions. However, as confirmed cases and deaths continued to rise and more cases were diagnosed during domestic quarantine, the measures were strengthened.

Upon arrival from Europe, health questionnaires and fever checks will be conducted to separate symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Symptomatic individuals will be placed in isolation facilities within the airport quarantine station, while asymptomatic individuals will stay in designated temporary living facilities to undergo COVID-19 testing. Considering that specimen collection and testing take more than half a day, individuals are required to stay in separate facilities. Although the exact locations have not been disclosed, they are expected to be public facilities near airports or ports.

If the test result is positive, the individual will be hospitalized or admitted for treatment. Depending on severity, severe cases will be treated in negative pressure isolation rooms, while mild cases will be treated at residential treatment centers. Even if the test result is negative, domestic nationals and long-term foreign residents with a fixed residence in Korea are required to self-quarantine for two weeks. This measure accounts for cases where initial negative results later turn positive. Short-term foreign residents without a fixed residence in Korea will be subject to active monitoring during their stay. This means their symptoms will be monitored through self-diagnosis applications or local health centers during their time in the country.

On the 19th, when the government expanded the special entry procedures to all incoming travelers worldwide to prevent the influx of COVID-19, passengers arriving on a passenger flight from Frankfurt, Germany, at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport underwent the special entry procedures. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

◇The following is a Q&A with Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Quarantine Task Force, regarding the strengthened entry procedures for arrivals from Europe

-You mentioned that asymptomatic long-term foreign residents without a residence are also subject to facility quarantine. Is there any financial support for them?

▲Living expenses will be provided on a per-person basis to foreigners subject to self-quarantine and facility quarantine. If the company provides paid leave, paid leave wages will be paid to the employer just like for domestic nationals.

-Foreigners visiting Korea for business trips may find it impossible to work due to quarantine measures. How is this addressed?

▲Foreigners staying short-term for business or official purposes will not be quarantined but will undergo enhanced active monitoring. Their symptoms will be continuously monitored through a self-diagnosis app, with daily symptom checks.

-How many rooms are planned to be secured for the facilities where asymptomatic arrivals will stay?

▲We plan to secure at least 800 rooms. Asymptomatic individuals will wait in the facility during testing. The waiting time is expected to be about one day. If symptoms develop, they will be transferred to residential treatment centers or hospitals; if no symptoms appear, they will enter self-quarantine.

On the 19th, when the government expanded the special entry procedures to all incoming travelers worldwide to prevent the influx of COVID-19, passengers arriving on a passenger flight from Frankfurt, Germany, were undergoing the special entry procedures at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

-Are there sufficient hospital beds near Incheon International Airport for symptomatic foreign nationals?

▲Yes. From the 13th, over 18 days, 16 confirmed cases were identified among European arrivals during quarantine. All were domestic nationals. Currently, there are no significant difficulties in providing inpatient treatment. Hospitalization is being arranged mainly at metropolitan area public medical centers and public hospitals with negative pressure rooms, and mild cases are admitted to residential treatment centers.

-Among arrivals from Europe, long-term residents are subject to self-quarantine even if negative. What is the criterion for long-term residence?

▲Long-term residence is classified as those who have been issued long-term visas rather than short-term visas.

-The self-quarantine of arrivals from Europe even if negative seems stronger than the measures taken early on for China. Does this mean the current situation in Europe is judged to be much more serious, or that the previous measures for China were insufficient?

▲Looking at the current incidence rate in Europe, it is much higher than when measures were taken for China. The spread is also very rapid. When measures were taken for China, most cases and deaths occurred in Hubei Province, while other regions had lower levels. At this point, Europe is judged to pose a much higher risk than China did at that time, so more strengthened quarantine measures have been prepared.

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