S. Korea to ban entry by foreign nationals who have recently visited Hubei Province

정세균 총리 "중국 후베이성 2주내 방문 외국인 4일부터 입국 전면금지,... 사실상 최고단계로 총력대응"

You might say better late than never, but South Korea has finally said it will be not be allowing foreign nationals to enter the country if they've recently been to China's Hubei Province, where the coronavirus first broke out.
This is the first time South Korea's taken the step, but it joins many other countries that have.
Shin Se-min with the details.

In the rapidly evolving public health emergency,…
the South Korean government says any foreign national who's recently been to Wuhan, China or the surrounding region will be banned from coming into South Korea... starting Tuesday, the fourth.

"South Korea will be restricting entry from critical regions in China, the epicenter of the spread of the novel coronavirus. Starting from midnight, February 4th, all foreign nationals who have visited China's Hubei Province within the past 14 days will be banned from entering South Korea."

As for Korean nationals, the prime minister added that anyone with a similar travel history must impose a self-quarantine of 14 days, and the same goes for anyone who's in close or regular contact with those who've visited the Chinese province.
Those who work in group facilities like postnatal care centers or nurseries and have travelled to the region will not be allowed to go to work for two weeks.
The government will also be suspending its visa-free travel program for Jeju island.
South Korea, together with the Jeju provincial government,... had implemented a visa-free system allowing almost all foreigners to stay on Korea's southernmost island of Jeju for up to 30 days without a visa.
South Korea, with the new entry ban, joins a growing list of nations like the U.S. and Japan that have imposed travel restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak.

"We must block transmission routes in local communities even more tightly. The government will preemptively prepare for mid-to-long term responses... to ready itself for possible worst-case scenarios."

As for the shortage of hygiene products like face masks and hand sanitizer, leading to unprecedented price hikes, the PM ordered the food and drug safety ministry and related authorities to reassure the public that supplies are on their way.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News.

#SouthKorea #ban_entry #Hubei_Province

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