'Omicron Response' All Arrivals to Undergo 10-Day Quarantine, Extended Until February Next Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Quarantine measures, including a 10-day quarantine for all overseas arrivals to prevent the domestic influx of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, will be extended for an additional four weeks until February 3 next year. The criteria for applying negative test certificates will also be strengthened from the issuance date to the test date after pre-arrival PCR testing to prevent infections.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 29th that the enhanced management measures for overseas arrivals to block the domestic influx of Omicron will be extended for four more weeks from December 7 to February 3 next year. This measure follows the 76th Overseas Influx Situation Evaluation meeting with related ministries on the 27th and the 5th New Variant Response Pan-Government Task Force (TF) meeting on the 28th. Previously, the government had decided on high-intensity quarantine measures, including a 10-day quarantine for all overseas arrivals starting from the 3rd, and extended this for three weeks until December 6.

The Disease Control Headquarters explained that this measure was taken after comprehensively considering the continuous increase in overseas influx, the domestic and international risk analysis of the Omicron variant, and the possibility of a sharp increase in overseas arrivals due to the Lunar New Year holiday. As of the 27th, among 445 confirmed Omicron variant cases domestically, 181 cases (40.6%) were imported, and including community spread, the proportion rises to 78%, emphasizing the need to strengthen overseas influx management.

In fact, among the 109 newly confirmed Omicron cases on the 29th, 63.3% (69 cases) were imported. Notably, 46 of these cases (66.7%) were arrivals from the United States, which has not been designated as a quarantine-enhanced country, high-risk country, or quarantine exemption exclusion country, indicating a significant risk of community transmission.

Accordingly, the mandatory 10-day quarantine and three PCR tests will be extended for all arrivals regardless of the country of entry, nationality, or vaccination status. However, Korean nationals and long-term foreign residents may self-quarantine, while short-term foreign residents must quarantine in temporary living facilities. The PCR tests will be conducted three times: pre-arrival PCR, PCR on day 1 after arrival, and PCR before quarantine release. The exemption issuance for quarantine, limited to attending funerals or official duties, will also be minimized and extended during the same period.

At the Asiana Airlines hangar in Jung-gu, Incheon, officials are conducting disinfection work inside the A330 aircraft to alleviate concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

In relation to this, the quarantine authorities decided to strengthen the criteria for applying pre-arrival PCR negative certificates from the issuance date to the PCR test date to enhance pre-entry blocking. Considering that it usually takes 24 hours from testing to certificate issuance, this change is expected to provide a more up-to-date confirmation of infection status and improve the effectiveness of blocking influx. However, to minimize confusion on the ground, a seven-day grace period will be given, and the measure will be implemented from the 13th of next month.

For regions with existing travel bubbles such as Singapore and Saipan, quarantine exemption measures will be maintained considering mutual trust between countries, but new sales of air tickets between Korea and Singapore will be temporarily suspended. Both Korea and Singapore will suspend new sales of direct flight tickets arriving between the 29th and the 20th of next month. However, passengers with already booked tickets can board and are eligible for quarantine exemption. Tickets can also be purchased if the traveler agrees to a 10-day quarantine, similar to flights from other countries.

Currently, 11 countries designated as quarantine-enhanced, high-risk, or quarantine exemption exclusion countries due to the prominent spread of the Omicron variant?South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia?will have their currently implemented stricter measures extended for the same period.

Short-term foreign residents arriving from these countries are restricted from entry. Korean nationals and long-term foreign residents cannot self-quarantine and must quarantine in temporary living facilities for 10 days. Additionally, PCR testing will be conducted four times instead of three, with an additional test on day 5 after arrival. Due to confirmed cases and presumed spread within the African continent, direct flights from Ethiopia, which are currently suspended, will remain banned from entering Korea during the same period. However, irregular flights for transporting Korean nationals will operate once a week.

Meanwhile, the Omicron variant rapid PCR reagent, which can confirm the presence of the Omicron variant within 3 to 4 hours after confirmation, was distributed to local governments nationwide on this day and is expected to be utilized starting from the 30th.

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