Status: 12/30/2022 11:53 a.m
In view of the corona wave in China, some countries are introducing a test requirement for travelers from the People’s Republic. After Italy, Spain and the USA, South Korea is now tightening the corona controls.
Because of the current wave of corona infections in China, South Korea is also tightening its controls for travelers from the neighboring country. The government in Seoul announced that from next Monday all people arriving from China would have to undergo a PCR test within one day of entering the country.
From next Thursday, the regulation will be tightened even further: According to the government, from then on everyone who wants to travel from China must be able to show a negative corona test. The negative result of a PCR test must therefore not be older than 48 hours, with a rapid antigen test a maximum of 24 hours may have elapsed. The regulation should initially apply until the end of February.
Contain the impact of the Chinese easing
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo gave the reason that precautions urgently needed to be taken to curb the effects of the relaxation of the corona rules in China. Planes from China could only arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.
South Korea also plans to limit the issuance of short-stay visas to Chinese nationals until the end of January, Han said. Exceptions should apply to diplomats, among others.
Other countries act similarly
With the restrictions, South Korea joins other countries around the world that have also decided on protective measures due to the corona situation in China. Since Friday, Japan has required all travelers from China to be tested for Corona upon entry. If the test is positive, those affected must isolate themselves in special accommodation for seven days. Direct flights from China will be restricted to four Japanese airports including Narita and Haneda near Tokyo.
In the USA (from January 5th) and India (from Sunday) travelers must present a negative result before departure.
European countries are also increasingly controlling
European countries are also imposing stricter rules for travelers from China. In Italy, air travelers have had to do a mandatory corona test at the airport since Thursday after landing. Spain also announced that a corona test or a full vaccination would have to be proven when entering China.
Germany has not yet tightened its controls for entry from China. Experts – such as the SPD health politician Christos Pantazis – rate the measure as sensible. A German solo effort would also be conceivable for him.
BDA calls on the EU to act
The managing director of the employers’ association BDA, Steffen Kampeter, on the other hand, called for joint action by the EU. “Almost three years of experience with Corona have proven that national solo efforts are dangerous for the internal market and the EU.”
After almost three years of strict precautions, China’s leadership abruptly announced an end to its controversial zero-corona policy on December 7th. According to officially unconfirmed internal estimates, 248 million people or 18 percent of the population were infected with Corona in the first three weeks of December alone.