Seoul's Test-on-arrival Rule For Chinese To Be Axed

South Korea will not require travellers from China to test for Covid-19 upon arrival from next month although they will still need to take pre-departure tests, a South Korean official said on Wednesday, its latest easing of rules to stop the virus.

South Korea imposed several restrictions on passengers from the country after it lifted zero-Covid policies late last year, but it has been easing them, citing an improved pandemic situation in its neighbour.

"Additional easing of quarantine measures appears possible as the positive rate among arrivals from China has dropped from 18.4 percent in the first week of January to 0.6 percent in the third week of February," Kim Sung-ho, a vice ministerial official at the Ministry of Interior and Safety, said during a meeting on the Covid response.

Effective March 1, South Korea will also allow flights from China to land in airports other than its main Incheon International Airport, which has been the sole gateway for flights from the country since early January.

Mandatory PCR tests before departure for passengers from China will remain in place until March 10, Kim said, to monitor and evaluate the impact of the rule relaxation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing was willing to consider reciprocal measures when the time was appropriate.

South Korea earlier resumed issuing short-term visas for travellers from China, followed by Beijing's lifting of similar visa curbs that were imposed in a response for Seoul's border restrictions. (Reuters)