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| Passenger jets of Korean Air are parked at a terminal of Incheon International Airport in Korea, Jan. 4. Yonhap |
By Jung Da-min
The Chinese government has strengthened quarantine guidelines for people arriving from South Korea, citing the recent increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 among those arriving from the country.
The Chinese Embassy in Korea announced Thursday that those entering China from Korea would be required to get two PCR tests of COVID-19 before departing, after previously requiring only one, and the new measure would take effect Jan. 17.
"Recently, the global COVID-19 situation has been serious and the number of COVID-19 cases among people visiting China from Korea is increasing," the Chinese Embassy here said.
Currently, passengers traveling from Korea to China need to take a PCR test and an IgM antibody test within 48 hours prior to departure. But starting from Jan. 17, they also need to take another PCR test seven days prior to departure and record a self-checklist of their health conditions every day after taking the first PCR test, before embarking.
Travelers entering China from Korea and returning Chinese citizens should take all the PCR tests required at institutions designated by the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese consulate office here.
For those who have been vaccinated at the time of the second PCR test, they can choose between three different options, including getting a PCR test and an IgM antibody test; getting two PCR tests from two different institutions; and getting two PCR tests from the same institution but using different reagents for each test.
Those traveling to China on Jan. 17, 18 and 19 must take the first PCR test at least five days before departure.
