South Korea to require COVID exams for vacationers from China

SEOUL (Reuters) — South Korea mentioned on Friday it would impose necessary COVID-19 exams on vacationers from China, becoming a member of america, Japan and different international locations in taking new border measures after Beijing’s choice to elevate stringent zero-COVID insurance policies.

South Korea would additionally prohibit issuing short-term visas for Chinese language nationals till the tip of subsequent month and briefly halt rising flights from China whereas utilizing Incheon Worldwide Airport as the one gateway for any flights from the neighboring nation, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo mentioned.

Efficient Jan. 5, vacationers from China can be required to submit a damaging end result from a PCR take a look at not more than 48 hours or a speedy antigen take a look at taken inside 24 hours earlier than departure, and endure one other PCR take a look at upon arrival beginning Jan. 2, officers mentioned.

South Korean authorities mentioned the brand new restrictions have been wanted after Beijing stopped publishing each day information on circumstances, elevating considerations over a brand new wave of infections and mutations.

Whereas many of the new guidelines are set to be in place till the tip of February, the Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company mentioned they could possibly be prolonged.

“We have to urgently put together for any home ripple results following China’s easing of quarantine guidelines,” Han mentioned. “We’ll put together to take stronger measures in case the state of affairs will get worse, if we see a speedy improve of infections from new arrivals or look of recent variants.”

South Korea additionally goals to restrict the sale of chilly medicines to discourage individuals from hoarding or shopping for to promote abroad, the well being ministry mentioned on Friday, including that particulars of the plan can be mentioned subsequent week.

Customs officers will step up inspections of chilly medicines being taken overseas. South Korean media have reported cases of Chinese language guests shopping for giant portions from pharmacies.

“We’ll deal strongly with… the not too long ago reported hoarding of chilly drugs and considerations of an adversarial impact on chilly drugs provide,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.

China this month started dismantling the world’s strictest COVID regime of lockdowns and intensive testing in an abrupt change of coverage, prompting international locations to impose or contemplate imposing curbs on vacationers from China amid a surge in circumstances there.