Citizens are passing in front of the arrival notice board at Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 23rd, when the government decided to temporarily suspend flights with the UK by the end of the year to block the spread of the new coronavirus infectious disease (Corona 19) mutant virus in the UK. News 1
A new coronavirus (Corona 19) strain from the UK, which is up to 70% stronger than before, is spreading around the world, and the red light is also on in the management of overseas entrants in Korea. Although the government has raised measures, such as temporarily suspending flight operations with the United Kingdom, it is pointed out that there are holes, such as excluding those entering other countries that have passed through the United Kingdom.
“Suspension of UK flights”
The virus was found in southern England in September. According to foreign media, the virus is currently spreading to Asian regions such as Japan and Singapore, passing through European countries such as France, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany. On the 27th, South Korea is also investigating whether a man in his 80s who returned home from the UK died during self-isolation and was infected with the variant Corona 19 virus.
As the virus fear spreads, Tae-ho Yoon, head of the Central Accident Control Headquarters, said on the 23rd, “We will temporarily suspend flights from the UK until the 31st.” In addition to the suspension of the issuance of the quarantine exemption certificate by the Korean diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom, visitors from the UK must be quarantined on the 14th and additionally undergo a gene amplification (PCR) test when quarantine is released.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, Incheon Airport Arrival Hall. News 1
However, there are still holes in the government’s strengthened overseas immigration policy. First of all, this measure applies only to direct flights departing from Heathrow Airport in London and arriving at Incheon International Airport. Departing from the UK, you can enter Korea via other countries.
In particular, it is difficult to grasp the list of transit passengers departing from the UK when entering the country from the UK via another country or after a short stay in the UK and then moving to a nearby country to enter Korea. This means that after the self-isolation period (14 days), you may be removed from the list that requires PCR testing. An official from the quarantine authorities said, “It is true that there is no way to check in this case,” but explained that “there is little possibility of entering through other countries as countries around the UK are already strictly blocking access.”
The UK is also not a country for strengthening quarantine, which is obligated to submit a’pre-PCR negative confirmation’ before entering Korea. From the 28th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandated that all passengers departing from the UK to check negative Corona 19 within 72 hours before departure. The Korean quarantine authorities clarified, “There is no big problem because all foreigners perform PCR tests as soon as they enter Korea.”
“It should be preemptively blocked like Japan and Europe”
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is holding his first press conference after taking office at the official residence on the 16th. yunhap news
Some point out that it is compared to Europe, the Middle East, and Japan, which preemptively implemented strong quarantine measures. The Japanese government temporarily suspended entry of new foreigners from all countries and regions from the 28th of this month to the end of January of next year, with a few exceptions, after 7 confirmed cases of the U.K. variant virus occurred. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait closed their borders for a week. The Philippines banned all flights from the UK and temporarily restricted entry to passengers who visited the UK within 14 days of arrival.
Jeong Ki-seok, a professor of respiratory internal medicine at Hallym University (former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), said, “People who have passed through to the UK should also trace their passports and conduct a thorough investigation during immigration. In the case of Taiwan, which is regarded as an excellent country of quarantine, it has benefited from the enforcement of strong blocking measures such as banning the entry of visitors to China in the past.” Eun-mi Chun, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “A variant virus may have already entered Korea. Even if it is not like Japan, it is necessary to block flights entering via the UK. “If coming from Europe, it is mandatory to submit a negative PCR confirmation.”
Reporter Woorim Lee [email protected]