South Korea extends restrictions on China arrivals amid concerns over post-Lunar New Year holiday Covid-19 surge
- Health authorities have extend the coronavirus measures on short-term travellers from China through the end of February
- The measures had prompted Beijing to retaliate by suspending South Korean short-term visa applications
South Korea has also required all passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau to submit proofs of negative tests taken with 48 hours before their arrival and put them through tests again once they arrive.
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Following a meeting on South Korea’s Covid-19 response on Friday, health authorities decided to extend the coronavirus measures on short-term travellers from China for another month.
South Korean officials during the meeting left open the possibility of easing the restrictions earlier if it becomes clearer that China’s Covid-19 situation is improving, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement.
According to South Korea’s Disease Control and Prevention Agency, around 10 per cent of the 6,900 short-term travellers from China who arrived in the country from January 2 to Thursday tested positive after being tested at the airport.
While allowing the extension of existing visas, South Korea has stopped issuing most short-term visas as its consulates in China, except for essential government, diplomatic and business activities and humanitarian reasons.