South Korea imposes Covid-19 tests for travellers from China, limits flights and visas
- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said South Korea will use Incheon airport as the only gateway for any flights from the neighbouring country
- The government also asked Koreans to try and minimise travel to China
South Korea would also restrict issuing short-term visas for Chinese nationals until the end of next month and temporarily halt increasing flights from China while using Incheon International Airport as the only gateway for any flights from the neighbouring country, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said.
Effective January 5, travellers from China would be required to submit a negative result from a PCR test no more than 48 hours or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure, and undergo another PCR test upon arrival starting January 2, officials said.
As Singapore, Malaysia cheer return of China tourists, Japan and India recoil
“We need to urgently prepare for any domestic ripple effects following China’s easing of quarantine rules,” Han said. “We will prepare to take stronger measures in case the situation gets worse, if we see a rapid increase of infections from new arrivals or appearance of new variants.”
South Korean authorities said the new restrictions were needed after Beijing stopped publishing daily data on Covid cases, raising concerns over a new wave of infections and mutations.
While most of the new rules are set to be in place until the end of February, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said they could be extended.
The KDCA has also asked Koreans to try and minimise travel to China.
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US to require negative Covid test for China arrivals from January 5
China this month began dismantling the world’s strictest Covid regime of lockdowns and extensive testing in an abrupt change of policy, prompting countries to impose or consider imposing curbs on travellers from China amid a surge in cases there.
Earlier this week, the US said it will require airline passengers coming from China to show a negative Covid test result, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status, from January 5.
Travellers who were also in the country 10 days before their departure to the US will have to show either a negative PCR or antigen test, federal health officials said on Wednesday. The requirement also applies to travellers from Hong Kong and Macau.
Passengers who tested positive more than 10 days before travelling can provide documentation and proof of recovery from Covid in lieu of a negative test result. Airlines will need to confirm the negative Covid test or documentation of recovery before boarding any flight to the US.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
