Authorities "Mandatory Self-Quarantine for Arrivals from Philippines and Thailand Also Under Priority Review" (Update)

On the 27th, an asymptomatic foreigner who arrived on a passenger plane from Los Angeles, USA, at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport is boarding a bus heading to a temporary testing facility to undergo a COVID-19 diagnostic test. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government and quarantine authorities are considering making self-quarantine mandatory for both domestic and foreign nationals entering from the Philippines and Thailand, as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads in Southeast Asia.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, said at a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 29th, "Excluding arrivals from the US and Europe among imported cases, many patients are coming from Southeast Asian countries, with the highest number reported from the Philippines and Thailand," adding, "(The expansion of self-quarantine) is being primarily considered for Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Thailand."

She also stated, "Cases are rapidly increasing in other parts of the Americas besides the US, and the situation is similar in other Southeast Asian countries besides the Philippines and Thailand, so we are analyzing the risk level," and added, "We will coordinate with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to adjust the regions and timing for expanding (self-quarantine)."

According to quarantine authorities' data, from the 23rd to the 28th, 268 imported COVID-19 cases were identified, of which 22 were confirmed positive after entering from the Philippines and Thailand.

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