[Q&A] From Tomorrow, All Arrivals from Europe Must Undergo Diagnostic Tests... 2-Week Self-Quarantine Also Mandatory

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] As the government strengthens quarantine measures to prevent the influx of COVID-19 infections from arrivals coming from Europe, it also plans to operate temporary living facilities on a scale of 1,000 rooms.

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters' Quarantine General Division (Public Health Policy Officer at the Ministry of Health and Welfare), said at a briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex that day, "We plan to operate about 1,000 rooms across seven facilities, including the Incheon SK Muui Training Center and the Gyeonggi Korail Human Resources Development Center."

As confirmed COVID-19 cases surged across Europe, the government strengthened quarantine procedures from 0:00 on the 22nd to require diagnostic testing for all arrivals from Europe. Accordingly, symptomatic domestic and foreign nationals will wait and receive diagnostic tests at locations such as the Incheon Airport Central Quarantine Medical Support Center (50 rooms), the Police Training Center (67 rooms), and the Incheon Ora Hotel (72 rooms) during the entry process.

Asymptomatic arrivals will stay at temporary living facilities for about 24 hours, and once results are available, they will be transferred to hospitals or living treatment centers or undergo 14 days of self-quarantine. The temporary living facilities will be staffed with 52 medical personnel, including 20 public health doctors, 20 nurses, and 12 clinical pathologists, as well as approximately 220 support personnel dispatched from local governments.

The government is not yet considering universal diagnostic testing for arrivals from North America, including the United States and Canada, where COVID-19 is spreading. Yoon said, "Confirmed cases continue to occur in North America, and some are identified during quarantine, but we judge that arrivals from North America do not pose as much risk as those from Europe." He added, "As I mentioned yesterday, we are continuously monitoring and closely observing the situation in foreign countries such as the United States. Currently, there is no plan to conduct universal diagnostic testing for arrivals from North America."

◇Below is a Q&A with Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Quarantine General Division, regarding the strengthening of entry procedures for arrivals from Europe.

- Recently, a full investigation of high-risk group facilities has been ongoing and about 80% completed. What is the cause of the sudden increase in confirmed cases at nursing hospitals in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions from yesterday to today?

▲ In Daegu, a full investigation is currently underway focusing on nursing hospitals and nursing facilities. During the full investigation, clusters of confirmed cases have been identified. In Gyeongbuk, cases appeared at a nursing hospital in Gyeongsan, where about a quarter of the staff and patients at nursing facilities are being sampled and tested. In Daegu, about 80-90% of the full investigation has been completed.

- There are concerns about the risk of infection while waiting for quarantine at the airport. You mentioned preparing 800 isolation rooms for universal testing of arrivals from Europe. How is this progressing?

▲ Regarding waiting during the quarantine process at the airport, isolation facilities for symptomatic individuals are being operated at 50 locations at Incheon Airport. Starting tomorrow, three additional temporary isolation facilities will be added. These temporary isolation facilities for symptomatic individuals will secure about 190 rooms. Additionally, for asymptomatic individuals, about 1,000 rooms will be secured across seven facilities. This is expected to significantly alleviate waiting during the airport quarantine process.

- Confirmed cases continue to emerge among Korean nationals arriving from North America. To what extent is universal diagnostic testing for arrivals from the United States being considered?

▲ Confirmed cases continue to occur in North America, including the United States and Canada, and some are identified during quarantine. However, we still judge that the risk is not as high as that from Europe. We are continuously monitoring and closely observing the situation abroad. Currently, there is no consideration for universal diagnostic testing related to North America, including the United States.

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