Seoul extends special quarantine to arrivals from Europe

South Korea on Monday extended special quarantine measures to cover arrivals from Europe, amid the surge in coronavirus cases in the region.

Previously six countries from the continent -- Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Netherlands -- were subject to tougher screening procedures. Similar measures have now been in place on arrivals from China, Japan, Iran, Hong Kong and Macao.

South Korean nationals and foreigners arriving from Europe are required to have their temperatures checked, declare whether they have respiratory symptoms and complete special quarantine documents, including their domestic address and phone number, at the airport to be cleared for entry. Passengers also have to download a mobile app to self-check and report their health condition every day for two weeks.

“COVID-19 seems to be spreading in Europe at an unusual pace,” said Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun as he announced the new steps.

He instructed the Health Ministry and Foreign Ministry to review whether additional measures to block a virus influx from overseas would be necessary.

The government is likely to broaden the vetting process for all citizens and foreigners entering the country from abroad in a bid to contain the further spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic that is now present practically everywhere in the world.

“Given the global pandemic, we don’t see it as particularly meaningful to apply the special entry procedures on a specific country anymore,” said Health Minister Park Neung-hoo on Sunday. 

Despite a high number of infections here, the rate of increase appears to be decreasing recently, with 74 new cases reported Monday, bringing the total cases to 8,236 with 77 deaths, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, Europe has seen a rapid spike in cases, with Italy hit hardest with 1,809 deaths and 24,747 cases in total, followed by Spain at 292 deaths and 7,845 cases. Seven other European countries have now reported more than 1,000 cases: Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden.

On heightened fears of COVID-19, 142 countries and territories around the world have imposed an entry ban or tightened quarantine measures on arrivals from Korea, with 75 countries barring entry.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)