No South Korea travel ban yet, but President Moon Jae-in put the country on the highest possible alert due to overwhelming rise of coronavirus cases.
During an emergency government meeting, he acknowledged that the succeeding days will be critical to the country after the cases of confirmed infections rose to 763 and six deaths have been reported. “The central government, local governments, health officials and medical personnel and the entire people must wage an all-out, concerted response to the problem,” he said.
However, officials emphasized that at least in South Korea, travel ban against Chinese visitors is not in order. “We should not be bound by regulations, nor should we shy away from unprecedented strong measures,” said Mr. Moon.
The highest level of alert is known as Level 4. This status allows the government to spend more resources on suppressing the virus. With Level 4 status, health authorities can easily gather the personal data of people suspected of being infected. These include outlaw religious and other gatherings.
“We are faced with a watershed moment in the case of the coronavirus,” Mr. Moon said. “This will be a momentous time when the central government, local governments and the whole people must wage an all-out, concerted response to the problem.”
Beyond South Korea
As of February 23, 14 countries and a U.S. territory imposed stricter travel restrictions on people coming from South Korea after a quick increase in coronavirus cases. These countries are Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Kiribati, Samoa, Brunei, UK, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Oman, Ethiopia and Qatar, Uganda, and US.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Level 3 warning, which advises travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea. For those who need to travel, they are discouraged to interact with sick people. CDC points out the importance of not touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Travelers should also consult with their healthcare providers since older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions are at high risk for more serious disease. Washing the hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is also recommended.
