Korea begins COVID-19 testing for arrivals from China

Korea started requiring COVID-19 testing for arrivals from China on Monday, with such measures causing confusion and inconvenience at Incheon International Airport, the gateway to Korea, throughout the day. Under the new restrictions that were announced only three days ago, all arrivals from China are obliged to undergo a PCR test within the first day of their entry. They must also remain in separate facilities here until their test results are confirmed, while Korean nationals and foreigners with residency status returning here from visiting China have to quarantine at their residence after a PCR test. Beginning Monday morning, Incheon airport authorities handed out red name tags to all short-term visitors from China to identify them from travelers from other countries. Soldiers wearing blue protective clothing then escorted them to the PCR testing center located at Terminal 1. As there was no separated route for them, some travelers arriving from Singapore were mistakenly given the red name tags after standing in wrong lines. Foreigners who underwent the PCR test were asked to stay in a waiting room on the first floor of the nearby Transportation Center until their test results came out. The center where benches and simple refreshments are prepared can accommodate about 300 people at the same time.<br/>