Authorities: "8 Confirmed Cases After Entry with Negative Test Certificates... Likely Developed Symptoms at Different Times"

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
Foreigners Entering from Enhanced Quarantine Countries like Kazakhstan
"PCR May Test Negative in Early Infection Stage"

Arrivals at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 are receiving transportation guidance for overseas arrivals.<이미지:Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The quarantine authorities announced on the 21st that among foreigners entering from countries designated by our government as enhanced quarantine target countries, 8 patients were confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). They had received negative test certificates from local medical institutions, but tested positive again during the re-examination process after entering the country.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, 8 foreigners who entered from four enhanced quarantine target countries were found to be infected with COVID-19. Enhanced quarantine target countries are designated by our government to reduce domestic inflow of COVID-19, requiring a negative PCR test certificate either when departing from the local country or during domestic entry procedures.

From the 13th, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan were initially designated, and from the 20th, the Philippines and Uzbekistan were added, making a total of six countries subject to this measure. Even after entry, they undergo another diagnostic test within three days while in quarantine.

The quarantine authorities believe that rather than the reliability of the testing capacity of local medical institutions, it is highly likely that the initial stage of infection at the local site led to a negative result due to insufficient viral load. PCR testing involves collecting patient specimens and amplifying them to determine infection status, offering higher accuracy compared to antigen or antibody testing methods. However, even if infected, the viral load in the early stage may be so low that the test can still yield a negative result despite amplification.

On the afternoon of the 20th, foreigners are heading to the departure hall at Incheon International Airport.

At a briefing on the same day, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, explained, "During the incubation period in the early stage of infection, PCR tests can show negative results, and as viral replication intensifies, PCR tests can later show positive results, so a time lag can sufficiently occur."

Even after diagnostic testing, it is possible that infection occurred while staying locally for a day or two or, though rare, in-flight infection cannot be completely ruled out. However, regardless of the infection route, since individuals are immediately quarantined upon entering the country and undergo another diagnostic test within three days, and even if negative, maintain quarantine or active monitoring, the possibility of community transmission is considered very low by the quarantine authorities.

On the 20th, citizens are getting tested at the Ewha Seoul Hospital drive-through screening clinic near a nursing facility in Gangseo-gu. <이미지:Yonhap News>

Small-scale cluster infections continue steadily in domestic communities. As of 12 noon on the day, one additional confirmed case related to the office cluster in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, was reported, increasing the cumulative number of patients to 34. In a nursing facility in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, after identifying 9 patients, 3 additional family members were confirmed, bringing the total to 12. One additional family member of a confirmed case was also identified in the case related to Su Nae Clinic in Gwangmyeong.

Meanwhile, 89 additional recovered patients have participated in plasma donation for the development of COVID-19 plasma treatment, increasing the total number of participants expressing willingness to 1,039. Among them, 660 have completed donation. Remdesivir, imported under special approval as a COVID-19 treatment, was requested by 76 patients at 27 hospitals and has been fully supplied.

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