Government to Enforce 2-Week Quarantine for Foreign Seafarers Arriving at Ports Starting from the 13th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Foreign seafarers entering the country through ports will be quarantined for 14 days in temporary living facilities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to the 'Temporary Living Facility Operation Plan for Foreign Seafarers' reported by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 12th, the government decided to first open temporary living facilities in two zones, Busan and Yeosu, on the 13th.

Following a cluster of confirmed cases from a Russian cargo ship that docked at Gamcheon Pier in Busan Port, the government announced plans to strengthen quarantine measures.

Since the 6th of this month, all seafarers who disembark after arriving in the country for crew changes or outings have been tested for COVID-19. The government plans to have seafarers entering through ports such as Busan, Masan, Ulsan, Pohang, and Donghae stay in the Busan zone, while those entering through Incheon, Pyeongtaek, Daesan, Gunsan, Yeosu, and Mokpo ports will stay in the Yeosu zone's temporary living facilities.

It is a principle that all foreign seafarers entering through ports must be quarantined in facilities. However, some exceptions apply. If the departure schedule is confirmed via aircraft or ship, and the seafarer can move directly without contact with the outside by using a separate vehicle arranged by the shipping company or agency, early discharge will be allowed for that seafarer.

Since the current capacity of temporary living facilities is limited, the government plans to operate the facilities on a reservation basis. Shipping companies or agencies wishing to have foreign seafarers disembark at domestic ports must apply in advance according to procedures. The government will open additional temporary living facilities as more facilities become available.

Meanwhile, in response to the recent global COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in imported cases in Korea, the government plans to strengthen entry management.

Starting from the 13th, all foreigners entering from countries designated by the government as 'quarantine enhancement target countries' must submit a negative PCR test certificate issued within 48 hours prior to departure upon entry. The negative certificate must be issued by testing or medical institutions designated by Korean diplomatic missions in the respective countries. Even if the negative certificate is submitted, entrants must quarantine at home or in temporary living facilities for 14 days from the date of entry and undergo another diagnostic test within 3 days of entry, just like other overseas entrants.

Since the 9th, the government has limited the seat occupancy rate of regular flights arriving from quarantine enhancement target countries to 60% or less and is also restricting re-entry permits when departing to those countries. The government plans to reduce irregular flights to countries where real-time monitoring of imported cases indicates a high risk of increase.

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