All foreigners arriving in South Korea will be required to present their negative Covid-19 test results at airports as well as at sea ports starting Friday, officials said on Thursday.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, all foreigners arriving at airports in Korea will have to have negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coronavirus test results with them for submission from Friday. The tests should be taken within 72 hours – or three days before their departure to Korea.

The same will go for foreigners arriving via ships – but from Jan. 15.

The number of virus infection cases in Korea has been hovering around 1,000 for several weeks, although it has remained below 1,000 for three straight days after 715 on Jan. 5. On Thursday, Korea reported 870 new Covid-19 cases, up 30 from the previous day.

Health authorities noted that it is yet too early to declare the slight decline in the number of cases as signs of a downward curve because regional infections are reported from private gatherings and vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals.

The country has also reported 12 cases of the Covid-19 variants as of Jan. 5 – 11 from the United Kingdom and one from South Africa. The new variant infection cases have rapidly spread to 30 other countries including the United States, France, Germany, and Japan.

The latest negative Covid-19 test result requirement is to curb the spread of the virus variant in Korea.

Korea has also tightened temperature standard from maximum 37.5 degrees Celsius to 37.3 degrees Celsius for those entering from the UK and South Africa. They are also required to take tests within three days upon arrival and before the 14-day quarantine period is lifted. All passenger flights from the UK are still suspended temporarily.

By Pulse

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