Seoul to require negative Covid test from Hong Kong, Macau travelers

Seoul, Jan 3 (EFE).- South Korea will require negative Covid tests from travelers coming from Hong Kong and Macau in addition to those from mainland China, the country’s health authorities announced Tuesday.

Starting Jan. 7, all travelers from Hong Kong and Macau will be required to undergo a PCR test at least 48 hours before departure or an antigen test 24 hours prior to traveling and will not be allowed to board their flights unless the result is negative, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said in a statement.

The test results will have to be included in an online form to be filled out in order to enter the country.

However, they will not have to undergo another PCR test within 24 hours of landing in South Korea as is the case with passengers from mainland China.

The decision has been made based on the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, the KDCA added.

More people from Hong Kong visited South Korea in December (44,614) than from mainland China (37,121), according to the KDCA.

In December, China announced an end to the strict Covid-19 quarantines it had imposed for nearly three years, opening the door for people in the country to travel.

Following the announcement, South Korea on Dec. 30 said that it would impose restrictions on visitors from the neighboring country, given the rise in cases there and to prevent the spread of new variants.

Several countries around the world have cited these reasons to step up restrictions on travelers from China. EFE

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