Authorities: "Patient Inflow Decreased After Designation of Enhanced Quarantine Target Countries"

On the 24th, Iraqi dispatched workers who arrived at Incheon Airport aboard the Air Force aerial refueling aircraft 'KC-330' are exiting the arrival hall. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Since the government designated countries subject to strengthened quarantine measures to prevent the influx of foreign COVID-19 patients into the country, all five countries except the Philippines have shown a declining trend.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 27th, the number of patients entering from Pakistan and Bangladesh was 13 and 4 respectively during a week from late last month to early this month, but the figures were recorded as 8 and 1 (July 5?11), 5 and 2 (July 12?18), and 3 and 0 (July 19?25) respectively. The Korean government designated Pakistan and Bangladesh as countries subject to strengthened quarantine measures from the 23rd of last month and has been managing entrants accordingly.

When a country is designated as subject to strengthened quarantine measures, foreigners entering Korea from that country must submit a PCR negative certificate. Visas and flights are restricted, regular flights must operate with a seat occupancy rate of 60% or less, and irregular flights are suspended.

Trends of Imported Cases from Countries Subject to Enhanced Quarantine Measures in the Past 4 Weeks (6.28~7.25)

Kazakhstan, designated from the 6th of this month, saw numbers decrease from 56 to 15 to 12 after designation. Kyrgyzstan also showed a stable trend with 4, 1, and 1 during the same period. Uzbekistan, designated from the 20th, decreased from 35 (July 12?18) to 17 (July 19?25). However, the Philippines slightly increased from 31 to 32 during the same period.

Over the past month, the total number of new confirmed cases, including domestic community cases, has been around 350 per week. According to statistics from the past two weeks, domestic cases were 19.9 (July 12?25), down from 31.8 (June 28?July 11). However, imported cases increased by more than 10, from an average of 19.6 (June 28?July 11) to 31.4 (July 12?25). The number of cluster outbreaks decreased to 8, and the proportion of cases with unknown infection routes also dropped to 6.3%.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "The risk of overseas importation continues to increase due to the global spread of the pandemic. We will expand the list of countries subject to strengthened quarantine measures, minimize overseas importation through visa restrictions and submission of negative certificates, and block domestic transmission risks through strengthened quarantine."

Meanwhile, as of 12 noon today, three additional confirmed cases related to the Gangseo Central Daycare Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, increased the cumulative number to 28. One more acquaintance was infected related to an office in Gwanak-gu, raising the cumulative number to 38. As of midnight today, two additional construction workers who entered from Iraq were confirmed, increasing the cumulative number to 76. Among them, 42 were identified at the quarantine stage, and 34 were confirmed while staying at temporary facilities.

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