Mandatory Two COVID-19 PCR Tests for Traveling to China... Costs Borne by Individuals (Comprehensive)

(Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] From midnight on the 11th, all passengers departing from Korea on flights bound for China, regardless of nationality, must undergo two COVID-19 tests before boarding.

The cost will be borne by the passengers.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced this during a regular briefing on the 8th while explaining China's strengthened quarantine measures for overseas arrivals.

For regular flights to China, passengers must take two PCR tests at intervals of at least three hours within 48 hours prior to the domestic boarding date.

For irregular flights entering China, passengers must take the first PCR test within 72 hours before boarding and the second test within 36 hours.

The first and second tests must be conducted at different medical institutions designated by the Chinese Embassy in Korea. Previously, only one PCR negative certificate issued within 72 hours of the departure date was required, but this new measure increases the number of tests from one to two and imposes stricter regulations on testing institutions.

In particular, the cost of the PCR tests must be paid by the passengers themselves.

The strengthening of COVID-19 testing for flights to China is due to the Chinese government's enhanced quarantine measures for all overseas arrivals following a resurgence of COVID-19 overseas.

Foreigners arriving from the UK, the Philippines, and Bangladesh are currently barred from entering China, and the Chinese government has mandated two PCR tests before boarding for passengers departing from Korea.

The government plans to individually inform passengers who have booked flights after the 11th about this new Chinese government measure.

Additionally, to minimize inconvenience caused by the requirement of two PCR tests, the government will request cooperation from domestic medical institutions to expedite the issuance of negative certificates and expand testing services on public holidays.

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