Covid-19: Defer non-essential travel to affected South Korean cities, says MOH

SINGAPORE — Due to the spike in Covid-19 cases in parts of South Korea, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised travellers to avoid non-essential trips to Daegu and Cheongdo, and to exercise caution when travelling to other parts of the country. 

This comes as the number of cases in Korea has skyrocketed over the past week — from 29 on Feb 16 to 602 as at 12pm on Sunday (Feb 23). 

Of the 556 cases, 306 are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu and 114 to the Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo. 

Daegu and Cheongdo have since been designated by the South Korean government as “special care zones”, and measures have been put in place in these regions to reduce the risk of further transmission, MOH noted.

Given the higher risk of transmission from travellers arriving from Daegu and Cheongdo, the authorities in Singapore have decided to take additional precautionary measures.

From Sunday, the definition of “suspect cases” was expanded to include persons with pneumonia or severe respiratory infection with breathlessness who had been to Daegu or Cheongdo, or both, within 14 days before the onset of symptoms.

The previous definition only concerns people with certain ailments or symptoms and who have recently travelled to China, or those who have a close contact with a Covid-19 case, or have frequent or close contact during work with recent travellers from China.

From Sunday, passengers arriving at Changi Airport who meet the expanded definition will be referred to a hospital for further assessment.

Airport staff will also look out for such travellers with respiratory symptoms at the aerobridges for flights coming from South Korea and at immigration checks. 

Travellers with recent travel history to Daegu and Cheongdo will be asked to identify themselves.

Health advisory notices on the precautionary measures to take when travelling to or arriving from the affected regions will also be issued to all travellers arriving at Changi Airport from South Korea. 

The previously announced travel advisory for Singaporeans to defer all travel to Hubei and all non-essential travel to mainland China remains in place.

“Given the evolving situation and ongoing investigations in the Republic of Korea, Singapore residents who need to travel to the affected areas are advised to regularly check MOH’s website (www.moh.gov.sg) for updates,” said MOH.  

It also advises travellers to South Korea to stay vigilant, monitor developments and heed the advice of the local authorities while there.