:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tgam/X2HX3AD4ZVL7PG3MJWBM5IAZ7I.JPG)
A Chinese language vacationer checks her baggage as she is ready for her COVID-19 take a look at outcome upon her arrival on the Incheon Worldwide Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Jan. 4.KIM HONG-JI/Reuters
South Korean authorities mentioned on Wednesday they have been attempting to trace down a Chinese language nationwide who examined optimistic for COVID-19 on arrival however went lacking whereas ready at a quarantine facility.
The particular person examined optimistic after arriving at Incheon Worldwide Airport close to Seoul late on Tuesday and was transferred to a lodge to await admission to quarantine, however then went lacking, a well being official mentioned.
The person, who was not recognized, has been positioned on a wished checklist, the official, Kim Joo-young, mentioned.
The particular person could possibly be topic to as much as one 12 months in jail, or 10 million received ($7,840) in fines, if convicted of violating the Infectious Illness Management and Prevention Act, he mentioned.
“The particular person can be deported and banned from coming into the nation for a sure time frame,” Kim instructed a media briefing.
On Tuesday, South Korea introduced necessary coronavirus checks on Chinese language arrivals, becoming a member of a rising checklist of nations imposing restrictions amid concern over a wave of infections following China’s determination to carry stringent zero-COVID insurance policies.
Beginning this week, South Korea required travellers from China to bear a PCR take a look at upon arrival. From Jan. 5, arrivals can submit a detrimental outcome from a PCR take a look at taken not more than 48 hours earlier than departure, or a detrimental fast antigen take a look at not more than 24 hours earlier than departure.
A complete of two,189 folks have arrived from China since Jan. 2 and the Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company mentioned 590 take a look at outcomes confirmed that 136 folks, or 22.7% of them, have been contaminated with COVID.
On Tuesday, 26% of 281 folks examined produced a optimistic outcome, company information confirmed.
The case of the lacking Chinese language nationwide triggered questions within the media about South Korea’s management of contaminated inbound travellers.
Kim, the well being official, mentioned it was a “shame” that authorities couldn’t forestall such an incident.
“Going ahead, we’ll dispatch extra personnel together with police to stop this from recurring,” he mentioned.
The case additionally fuelled public debate on restrictions on folks arriving from China.
“There must be extra restrictions,” mentioned Lee Jae-moon, 30, ready for somebody to reach at Incheon airport. “Right this moment’s incident underlines the seriousness of the scenario.”
However one other South Korean, Received Mi-kyong, 51, disagreed saying China was an essential financial associate and South Korea ought to “open the door wider” to its folks.
International well being officers tried to find out the info of China’s raging COVID-19 outbreak and learn how to forestall an extra unfold because the Communist Social gathering’s mouthpiece newspaper on Wednesday rallied residents for a “ultimate victory” over the virus.
Reuters
