[ソウル ４日 ロイター] – South Korean authorities announced on the 4th that they are tracking down a Chinese national who had tested positive for the new coronavirus upon arrival and went missing while staying in a quarantine facility.
A South Korean health official said the person tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving at Incheon International Airport near Seoul late Wednesday and was transferred to a nearby hotel to remain in isolation before disappearing into a rice field.
The man is on the wanted list and could face up to a year in prison or a fine of 10 million won ($7,840) if found guilty of violating the Control and Prevention Act Infectious Diseases. “This person will be deported and banned from entering the country for a period of time,” a South Korean health official said at a press conference.
Starting this week, South Korea will require travelers from China to undergo a PCR test upon arrival. From May 5, it will be possible to submit negative results of PCR tests up to 48 hours before departure or antigen tests up to 24 hours before departure.
A total of 2,189 people have arrived in South Korea from China since the 2nd. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 136 people, or more than 20%, have tested positive for 590 tests so far.
