(3rd LD) 99 countries, territories restricting entry from S. Korea over coronavirus concerns

(ATTN: UPDATES story with latest tally, more info)
By Song Sang-ho

SEOUL, March 5 (Yonhap) -- A total of 99 countries and territories are imposing entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures on people from South Korea on Thursday, amid fears about the new coronavirus outbreaks

As of 8 p.m., 35 countries and territories, including Australia, plan to enforce or imposed entry bans on people who have traveled to South Korea in the past two weeks, according to the foreign ministry.

Australia announced a plan to start enforcing a weeklong entry ban on foreigners travelling from South Korea at 7 p.m. Thursday (Korea time), its embassy in Seoul said. It will review in the next seven days whether to extend the ban.

Six countries and territories, including Japan and Malaysia have imposed entry bans on people from parts of Korea, such as the country's southeastern city of Daegu and the adjacent Cheongdo County, where the bulk of COVID-19 infections have occurred.

Japan announced later Thursday that it will quarantine passengers flying in from South Korea and China at a designated place for two weeks starting Monday through the end of this month. It will also limit the landing of all incoming flights from the two countries to two airports, one near Tokyo and one in Osaka.

A total of 13 countries and territories, including Vietnam, have quarantined people from South Korea or other virus-affected countries.

The Republic of Congo now quarantines people flying in from South Korea, Iran, Italy and China at designated hotels.

The number of countries and territories that have strengthened immigration controls or recommended quarantine programs for Koreans was tallied at 45.

India was moved to this list from the entry ban list as its embassy in Seoul clarified that the restriction measure involves a tighter process for new visa issuances and invalidation of previously issued visas.

Among the countries was Mozambique, which imposes a 14-day self-quarantine for people from Korea with no symptoms or quarantines those with signs of illness at designated facilities.

Malta was also an addition to this list, as it started recommending a 14-day self-quarantine for foreigners arriving from South Korea, China, Japan, Iran and northern Italy.

In China, 17 provinces and cities, including the latest addition of Hunan Province, enforced quarantine programs for people arriving from South Korea or from parts of the country, like Daegu, mostly at designated hotels.

As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 1,226 South Koreans, including 860 in China and 318 in Vietnam, were in quarantine around the world.

As of Thursday, South Korea's coronavirus cases totaled 6,088 cases and 42 deaths.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
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