South Korea on Monday eased travel advisory level for China’s Hubei province, the epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak, and lifted suspension of visa validity and issuance as the virus situation in the province has improved.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Korea has moved down its advisory for Hubei province from third-level alert recommending withdrawal to special travel warning. It also lifted suspension in visa validity and issuance on Hubei province from Monday.

“[The move comes as] COVID-19 infection condition in Hubei province is being managed stably as other regions in China and self-employed businesses and Korean students studying in Hubei are hoping to return to the province,” the foreign ministry said in a release.

Special travel advisory is issued in times of urgent and short-term danger to travelers. It is seen as between level two and level three under the country’s four-level advisory system.

On January 25, the foreign ministry issued third-tier travel advisory on Hubei province as COVID-19 spread quickly after its first outbreak in Wuhan late last year.

From February 4, Korea banned entry of all foreign nationals that visited Hubei province in the past 14 days as well as holders of passports issued by Hubei province. It also temporarily suspended validation of visas issued by Korean consulate in Wuhan that have jurisdiction over Hubei province and suspended visa issuance by the consulate.

The latest corrective action, which comes 7 months after its previous ban, was widely expected as the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said earlier that it will lift the ban in response to China that resumed visa issuance for Koreans since August 5.

The foreign ministry, meanwhile, advised Koreans to cancel or delay nonessential travel to Hubei province and Koreans returning to Hubei province to follow health rules and restrain from going out and practice social distancing.

By Ahn Jung-hoon and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]