- Title: South Korea steps up airport COVID checks, China arrival disappears
- Date: 4th January 2023
- Summary: INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (JANUARY 4, 2023) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERING AT THE ARRIVAL HALL OF INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SIGN, READING (Korean, Chinese and English): "INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS" KOREAN CHARACTERS ON MILITARY OFFICER'S PROTECTIVE SUIT, READING (Korean and English): "ARMY / R.O.K (Republic of Korea) ARMY" ELECTRONIC BOARD SHOWING ARRIVALS SCHEDULE ELECTRONIC BOARD / ARRIVING PASSENGERS WALKING OUT OF THE GATE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS WALKING PAST HEALTH OFFICIALS AND MILITARY OFFICERS IN PROTECTIVE SUITS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING AT THE AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 30-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN RESIDENT, LEE JAE-MOON, SAYING: "I personally think there should be more restrictions (on Chinese arrivals). This morning, I saw the news that a person came from China, who is supposed to be quarantined, but had escaped. That incident underlines the seriousness of the situation." TRAVELLERS FROM CHINA ARRIVING / MILITARY OFFICERS IN PROTECTIVE SUITS STANDING AT ARRIVING HALL PEOPLE FROM CHINA HOLDING PAPER SHOWING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS YELLOW TAG INDICATING PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM CHINA OFFICIAL SPEAKING TO TRAVELLERS TRAVELLERS FROM CHINA STANDING AT THE AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 51-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN RESIDENT, WON MI-KYONG, SAYING: "Ever since they (Chinese travellers) stopped coming (to South Korea) due to COVID-19, the South Korean economy has been in real trouble. I think we should open the door wider to the Chinese travellers and regard them more favourably so that more tourists can come." PEOPLE FROM CHINA WALKING TO COVID-19 TESTING CENTRE SIGN, READING (Korean and English): "INCHEON AIRPORT COVID-19 TESTING CENTRE (WEST)" / PEOPLE PASSING BY PEOPLE QUEUING AT THE TESTING CENTRE PERSON IN FACE MASK / HEALTH WORKER IN FACE SHIELD SPEAKING TO AN ELDERLY PERSON SIGN, READING (English): "ARRIVALS TESTING" TRAVELLERS FROM CHINA STANDING AT THE TESTING CENTRE SIGN, READING (English): "COVID" PEOPLE WAITING AT THE TESTING CENTRE
- Embargoed: 18th January 2023 07:46
- Keywords: COVID COVID-19 China PCR South Korea airport arrival coronavirus missing restriction test travel travellers
- Location: INCHEON, CHEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA
- City: INCHEON, CHEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001024604012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:South Korea on Wednesday (January 4) stepped up mandatory coronavirus tests on travellers from China, after a Chinese national who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival but went missing while waiting at a quarantine facility.
Health officials and military officers decked in protective suits kept a watchful eye as travellers from China streamed through the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport before proceeding to a testing centre nearby.
South Korean authorities said on Wednesday they were trying to track down the missing Chinese national who tested positive after arriving at Incheon airport near Seoul late on Tuesday (January 3). The person was transferred to a hotel to await admission to quarantine, but then went missing, a health official said.
The individual, who was not identified, has been placed on a wanted list, health ministry official Kim Joo-young said.
(Production: Dogyun Kim, Hanna Song, Minwoo Park) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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