The government extended the suspension of operations for two weeks until the 11th of next month to block the spread of the mutant virus from the UK. The photo is the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport. /Photo = Yonhap News
The government has decided to extend the suspension of operations for flights departing the UK to block the entry of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) mutant virus into the country.
According to the quarantine authorities on the 24th and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK, the suspension of operations for direct flights departing from the UK scheduled for the 25th will be extended by two more weeks until the 11th of next month.
The government has previously suspended flights departing from Heathrow Airport in London, England, and arriving at Incheon International Airport from December 23 to 31 last year, and has continued to extend it.
The mutant virus, which is prevalent in the UK, is known to have 1.7 times more transmission power than the existing virus, and the government raised the level of quarantine response during the quarantine process to block the influx of mutant viruses.
Another part of this is the mandatory submission of a’negative confirmation letter’ for a gene amplification (PCR) test for all inbound travelers from overseas.
If foreigners do not submit the confirmation, entry itself is prohibited, and Koreans may be quarantined for 14 days after undergoing a diagnostic examination at a temporary living facility. All related costs are at your own expense.
In addition, all immigrants must undergo examination after entering the country and before quarantine.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of the 15th, the number of countries with mutant virus originating from the UK increased to 94. Variations from South Africa and Brazil were reported to have occurred in 46 and 21 countries, respectively.
Meanwhile, the number of people confirmed to have been infected with the mutant virus in Korea totaled 128 people, including 109 infected from the UK, 13 from South Africa, and 6 from Brazil.
Bobae Lee, guest reporter at Hankyung.com [email protected]
Ⓒ Hankyung.com prohibits unauthorized reproduction and redistribution