Korea will require negative Covid-19 test results for entrants not only from China but Hong Kong and Macau because of the recent surge in infection cases in the region, the government said.
According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, it will become mandatory for travelers from Hong Kong and Macau to provide a negative confirmation of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid antigen test (RAT) before arrival, and enter their information in Q-code, Korea’s quarantine information pre-entry system, from Saturday.
“The decision was made after careful consideration of the recent increase in the number of confirmed cases and deaths in Hong Kong, the fact that the number of arrivals from Hong Kong exceeded the number of arrivals from China last month, and trends in major countries,” the government said.
Unlike travelers from mainland China, the government stressed that entrants from Hong Kong and Macau will not have to receive a Covid-19 test after arrival nor be subject to visa issuance restrictions.
However, upon entry, those with symptoms must receive a Covid-19 test, and if short-term foreigners test positive at the airport inspection center, they will be subject to a seven-day mandatory quarantine at a nearby temporary home facility.
During that time, the traveler will bear full responsibility for any cost occurring from inspection after entering the country and accommodation in a temporary facility after testing positive.
If inpatient treatment is required, according to the principle of reciprocity, Chinese nationals will have to bear the full cost of treatment themselves.
However, the Korean government will support hospitalization fees for permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau, but food and treatment expenses will not be supported.
On Tuesday, Korea added 81,056 new Covid-19 infections, including 63 cases from abroad, bringing the total caseload to 29,220,591, according to the KDCA.
The nation also reported 29 more Covid-19 deaths, raising the death toll to 32,301. The fatality rate stood at 0.11 percent. The number of critically ill patients came to 620, down 17 from the previous day.