Travelers entering Korea from China to be required to take Covid-19 tests

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo presides over a Covid-19 central headquarters meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex on Friday. [YONHAP]

All incoming travelers from China will soon be required to provide a negative Covid-19 test result in order to enter Korea, due to the rapid increase of Covid-19 infections in China.

“People departing from China will have to take a Covid-19 test both before departing and after arriving in Korea until late February,” said Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday.

The measure will be implemented from Jan. 5 until Feb. 28.

“The government is strengthening part of its infection prevention measures to prevent a spread of Covid-19 infections from the rising cases of infections in China.”

All flights from China will land at Incheon International Airport.

The number of total flights will be reduced as those arriving at Gimhae, Daegu and Jeju International Airports will be temporarily halted. No additional flights will be added for the time being.

Travelers leaving China can only get on a flight headed to Korea if they can provide proof of a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure or of a rapid antigen test taken 24 hours before departure.

Arrivals will also be required to register for a so-called Q-Code system to report their health condition.

After arriving in Korea, incoming travelers will also need to take a PCR test a day after their arrival.

Exceptions to these new rules may be made for Koreans who are in need of emergent arrival to the country.

The country will also limit its issuance of short-term visas in China to restrict traveling from China to Korea until the end of January, with the exception of certain situations for diplomatic and foreign affairs issues.

These tightened restrictions come as the number of virus cases in China has been on the rise.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that nearly 18 percent of the population in China was infected in the first 20 days of December, according to minutes from an internal meeting of China’s National Health Commission.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]