700 Korean evacuees to be released from two-week quarantine
SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Seven hundred South Koreans repatriated from a Chinese city at the center of the new coronavirus outbreak are set to be released from quarantine in two provincial towns on Saturday and Sunday.
They have stayed in isolation at two state-run facilities in Asan and Jincheon, both about 90 kilometers south of Seoul, for more than two weeks, the estimated incubation period of COVID-19.
They were declared free of the virus in the final test on Thursday and permitted to go home, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The do not require follow-up medical checks after discharge, the ministry said.
The Asan compound has accommodated 527 people, with 173 in Jincheon.
On Saturday, a total of 366 evacuees who arrived from the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 31 -- 193 in Asan and 173 in Jincheon -- will be freed.
The following day, the Asan facility will free 333 people who arrived on Feb. 1 and a non-evacuee who has been there to take care of his two children.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Interior and Safety Minister Chin Young plan to attend farewell ceremonies there.
The government will mobilize 37 buses to transport them to major locations near their homes, officials said.
The ministry added that 111 civil servants, who supported them at the facilities, will also be released on Sunday and Monday after completing disinfection and waste disposal.
(END)
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week
-
(2nd LD) BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
-
Crypto investor probed over allegedly visiting house of Terraform's CEO
-
(2nd LD) N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
(LEAD) Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising
-
S. Korea to send condolence delegation to UAE over death of president
-
(LEAD) At least 8 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion in Ulsan: firefighters
-
(LEAD) Biden set to arrive in S. Korea for first summit with Yoon
-
First lady Kim to greet Biden before state dinner
-
(2nd LD) Yoon, Biden hold first summit on N. Korea, economy
-
(4th LD) Yoon, Biden tour Samsung chip plant ahead of summit
-
(5th LD) Yoon, Biden agree to expand joint military exercises to cope with N.K. threats
-
N. Korea to hold state funeral for military official known for ties with Kim Jong-un